Game-Cock, which is so like the wild) is ornamental when he opens and
scrapes it before the female. I fear it is not; but though I have often
looked at wing of the wild and tame bird, I cannot call to mind the exact
colours. What a number of points you have attended to; I did not know that
you were a horticulturist. I have often marvelled at the different growth
of the flowering and creeping branches of the ivy; but had no idea that
they kept their character when propagated by cuttings. There is a S.
American genus (name forgotten just now) which differs in an analogous
manner but even greater degree, but it is difficult to cultivate in our
hot-house. I have tried and failed.


LETTER 445. TO J. JENNER WEIR.
Down, May 30th [1868].

I am glad to hear your opinion on the nest-making instinct, for I am Tory
enough not to like to give up all old beliefs. Wallace's view (445/1. See
Letter 440, etc.) is also opposed to a great mass of analogical facts. The
cases which you mention of suddenly reacquired wildness seem curious. I
have also to thank you for a previous valuable letter. With respect to
spurs on female Gallinaceae, I applied to Mr. Blyth, who has wonderful
systematic knowledge, and he tells me that the female Pavo muticus and
Fire-back pheasants are spurred. From various interruptions I get on very
slowly with my Bird MS., but have already often and often referred to your
volume of letters, and have used various facts, and shall use many more.
And now I am ashamed to say that I have more questions to ask; but I
forget--you told me not to apologise.

1. In your letter of April 14th you mention the case of about twenty birds
which seemed to listen with much interest to an excellent piping bullfinch.