106 LIFE OF TEGETMEIER 



placed absolute reliance upon his accuracy of 

 observation and the exactness with which he 

 would always report results. Tegetmeier's share 

 in collecting facts for the work on "Variation" 

 was no small one ; on March 22nd, 1861, Darwin 

 writes to congratulate him on his success in 

 breeding pouters, and adds, " you have every 

 right to be proud of your accuracy of eye and 

 judgment." He goes on to ask Tegetmeier to 

 look over his manuscript for him. " For my 

 object of treating poultry I must give a sketch 

 of several breeds with remarks on various points. 

 I do not feel strong on the subject. Now, when 

 my MS. is fairly copied in an excellent hand- 

 writing, would you read it over, which would take 

 you at most an hour or two to do ? This would 

 be of great assistance to me, more especially if 

 you would allow me to put a note stating that 

 you, a distinguished judge and fancier, had read 

 it over." Darwin goes on to say that Tegetmeier 

 will probably find little that is new to him in the 

 MS. — " but if by chance you used any of my 

 facts or conclusions before I published, I should 

 wish you to state that thev were on mv 

 authority ; otherwise I shall be accused of 

 stealing from you." 



The request clearly shows Darwin's sense of 

 indebtedness to Tegetmeier ; he had indeed 

 received so much help from him in his work, 

 readers might well imagine that any fact or 



