Doubts the fruit will stick on his Chinese double peach and asks TR to send him a couple when ripe.

Would like to grow seeds of the "curious monstrosity" of a wall-flower, to see whether the monstrosity is hereditary.

Thanks WED for his botanical specimens and observations.

Discusses Corydalis and the fertilisation of Fumariaceae.

Sends sketch of Catasetum tridentatum fruit at request of Edward Bradford.

CD incorrectly asserted that Catasetum is male [Orchids, pp. 236–8].

JDH encourages a Mr Salwyn [Osbert Salvin] to collect in Galapagos; would like CD to add his encouragement.

Has just returned from collecting in Central America and is planning to go to the Galapagos to gather specimens in all branches of natural history.

Cites instance in which different varieties of same species of plant flourished side by side under same conditions.

Sends copy of the table, which now embodies CD’s suggestions [see 4117].

Gives instances of persons born with two thumbs and comments on hereditary factor.

Thanks CD for letter [3935].

Encloses report [missing] of his latest expedition [to west coast], which had a grand result.

Has searched in vain for the Ophrys apifera CD asked for.

Thanks CD for paper on Linum [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

Calls CD’s attention to his observations on Rubiaceae.

The [genealogical] table seems excellent. Would be obliged for any further information about the children of the cousins – the case surprises CD.

Going abroad; will miss the English orchid season.

Thanks for maps.

George [Darwin] failed at St John’s [College, Cambridge] and will stay another year at school.

Lyell is "half-hearted but whole-headed" for CD’s theory. George Bentham wholly converted.

Bates’s book delightful but has a Darwinistic bias.

Cameroon plants.

JDH defends Bates against J. E. Gray’s slanders.

Thanks for drawing and note about peach–nectarine.

CD named corresponding member of the Society.

The Lyell–Falconer squabble.

Discusses island vs continental floras and their degree of modification.

Critical of Wallace.

CD’s observations on phyllotaxy.

Sends sprig of Linum luteum corymbiflorum [?]. CD is right about its being dimorphic.

Will try some odd strawberry crosses this summer.

Alarmed that CD did not see what WED saw in Corydalis lutea. Has found buckbean in the New Forest. Will get seeds of Corydalis claviculata.

Flora of Cameroons shakes JDH’s faith in ability to explain past or present migrations. Sees need for a major novel explanation such as natural selection, glacial cold, or continental connections.

Lyell in a bad way about feud with Falconer.

JDH’s opinion of Wallace, Bates, J. E. Gray, Owen, Asa Gray, Lubbock, and Bentham.

Bentham’s Linnean Society address [see 4118].

Sends flowers of a variety of Lychnis dioica which has bisexual flowers.