FBG greatly interested in CD’s article ["Fertility of hybrids from the Chinese and common goose"] but has not altered his opinion on the matter.

Gratified by CD’s praise.

Describes plan of his new book [Island life (1880)].

Efforts to secure a post.

Thanks CD for Erasmus Darwin. Comments on it.

News of Violetta Darwin’s death.

Sends some cotton seeds for CD.

Discusses the grazing habits of sheep and cattle on steep hillsides.

Plans a "Darwin Festival" to celebrate CD’s birthday.

Responds to article in Nature on the sexual colours of butterflies [Collected papers 2: 220–2].

Sends a seedling Drosera capensis.

The violent stranding of floating ice as first mentioned in CD’s article ["Ancient glaciers of Caernarvonshire", Collected papers 1: 163–71] is the most remarkable of the Moel Tryfan phenomena.

What are functions of "yeomen of the armoury" on p. 1? Who is "old Hooker" on p. 34? Needs to explain them in annotations [to Erasmus Darwin].

Send CD a present of a fur coat.

The Birmingham Philosophical Society proposes to celebrate CD’s birthday and make him their first Honorary Member. RLT will draft the address.

Sends publications.

Discusses comparative anatomy and evolutionary implications of several ligaments.

Thinks effects of Chinese foot-binding are inherited.

Criticises article on Darwinism in Brockhaus’ Lexikon.

Mentions forthcoming book on mammalian vertebrae.

Sends seed attached to breast feathers of a heron that had been shot.

SB has decided to lay the matter [the subject of 12393 and 12396] before the public and has written to the Athenæum stating the facts. [Athenæum 31 Jan 1880.]

Thanks CD for giving money to the children. Is going to give money to Bessy, but not invest it until she is really rich. Returns Butler’s letter. Thinks Butler is looking for a grievance to write an article about.

Asks CD to write his opinion of the views expressed in "Die Darwin’sche Theorie und die Landwirtschaft" in his journal, Reunion.

Has shown S. Butler’s Athenæum letter to Frederick Pollock, who confirms RBL’s advice that it needs no answer. Sends an imaginary response by Butler.

Advise against making any reply to Samuel Butler’s charges.

WZS, 12-year-old pupil, asks where he can find answer to question of what causes different shades of colour in inhabitants of earth.