Did not think anyone would notice case of Lathyrus.

Recalls reading correspondent’s paper on great fir woods of Hampshire.

Thanks for photograph.

Interested by HD’s information on aperea; CD had concluded that it was not the progenitor of domestic guinea-pigs.

Is unsure what HD means by "stock-dove"; properly this is Columba oenas and the domestic pigeon is C. livia.

Suggests that the Zoological Society might arrange for some specimens [unspecified] to be supplied from the Gardens.

Thanks for note; sends photograph taken by one of his sons.

His continued ill-health has prevented him making the acquaintance of many.

Discusses proposed publication of Variation.

Congratulates AG on the "grand news of Richmond".

Still interested in dimorphism and would welcome new cases.

Working on Variation

and correcting proofs of Climbing plants.

Would like seed of AG’s dimorphic Plantago.

Cannot understand how the wind could fertilise reciprocally dimorphic flowers.

May his son George call for advice on his career?

CD has been ill for past four months.

Discusses income provided for sons at Cambridge.

Thanks for correcting Fritz Miller’s paper on climbing plants. CD will send it to Linnean Society.

Ludwig Rütimeyer thanks CAB for the skull of a Chillingham cow, and thinks it may belong to the Primigenius race.

Thanks for photograph, charmed by Mrs Huxley’s letter.

Regrets THH cannot do the popular work on zoology.

Has heard THH wrote leading article in last Reader ["Science and ""church policy"" ", 4 (1864): 821].

"I return your letter to [William] Sharpey." Grandest eulogium CD has received.

Has finished long paper on "Climbing plants". Prefers sending it to Linnean Society if Bentham does not think it too long.

For New Zealand flora [1864–7] CD suggests JDH count plants with irregular corollas and compare with England.

Does not quite agree about Reader.

Is Tyndall author of piece on spiritualism?

CD’s illness diagnosed as "suppressed gout".

Thanks TCE for information about breeding

and for his promise to measure feet of otter-hounds [see Variation 1: 39–40].

Concerning the proposed translation of K. F. von Gärtner’s Bastarderzeugung (1849).

Asks that the long paper that he is sending for the Society be acknowledged when received.

Pleased to learn that HD has resumed research on Anoplura.

Are Chiloe pediculi a distinct species?

Do lice differ on different races of humans?

Is there evidence supporting Mr Marshall’s statement about Polynesian lice?

"Climbing plants" sent off.

Encourages JDH to include notes on gradation of important characters in Genera plantarum or to write a paper on the subject. Has given prominence to gradation of unimportant characters in climbing plants. Believes that it is common for the same part in an individual plant to be in different states. Same may be true of important parts – for example position of ovule may differ.

Two articles in last Natural History Review interested him; "Colonial floras" [n.s. 5 (1865): 46–63]

and "Sexuality of cryptogams" [n.s. 5 (1865): 64–79].

Fact of similarity of orders in tropics is extremely curious. Thinks it may be connected with glacial destruction.

Leo Lesquereux says he is a convert for the curious reason that CD’s books make birth of Christ and redemption by grace so clear to him!

"Not one question [for JDH] in this letter!"

Criticises Duke of Argyll’s address [to the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1864)] and demurs on Argyll’s "new birth" theory.

Agrees with CL on beauty.

Enjoyed hearing of Princess Royal’s discussion [on Darwinism].

CD’s illness.

CL’s advice on chapter [of Variation] on dogs was excellent.

Thanks JEG for congratulations [on Copley Medal?].

Mentions JEG’s illness.

Returns [Andrew] Murray’s paper;

especially values HD’s note that the same species of lice infect the different varieties of fowl, pigeon, and dog. Further queries about the relationship of the same species of pediculi to different domestic varieties.