WORK AT THE SEASHORE. 267 



"value to me. It might be sent, I should think, in a 

 "jar with profusion of salt and split in the abdomen. 

 "I should also be very glad to have one of the wild 

 " canary birds for the same object; I have a specimen 

 " in spirits from Madeira. 



" Do you think you could aid me in this, and shall you 

 " be inclined to forgive so very troublesome a request ? 

 " As I have found the good nature of fellow-naturalists 

 " almost unbounded, I will venture further to state that 

 " the body of any domestic or fancy pigeon which has 

 "been for some generations in the West Indies would 

 " be of extreme interest, as I am collecting specimens 

 " from all quarters of the world. 



" Trusting to your forgiveness, 



" I remain, my dear sir, 



" Yours sincerely, 

 " Ch. Darwin." 



"Down, Bromley, Kent, September 28, 1856. 

 " My dear Sir, 



" I thank you warmly for your extremely kind 

 "letter, and for your information about the bald-pate, 

 "which is quite sufficient. When we meet next I shall 

 " beg to hear the actual coo ! 



" I will by this very post write to Mr. Hill, and will 

 " venture to use your name as an introduction, which I 

 " am sure will avail me much ; so you need take no 

 " trouble on the subject, as using your name will be all 

 " that I should require. With my sincere thanks, 



"Yours truly, 



" Ch. Darwin. 

 " I am very anxious to get all cases of the transport 

 " of plants or animals to distant islands. I have been 

 " trying the effects of salt water on the vitality of seeds 



