Would rejoice to see BJS at Down, but explains that he can only spend short spells of time in his company if he comes.

Would like to call on CD for an hour or so before leaving London to settle in Bournemouth.

Reports on his health.

Discusses a surveying expedition under Richard Charles Mayne on which his son will be Second Lieutenant; hopes to arrange for them to excavate some bones in the Falklands.

Discusses the South American mission.

Has been busy digging out fossil leaves from local Eocene deposits.

Thanks BJS for his account of S. America and the Fuegians.

Can BJS ask W. H. Stirling to make observations on expression?

Has asked Hooker about the fossil leaves, and he suggests they be sent to Oswald Heer.

Has just sent MS on domestic animals [Variation] to the printer.

Has given CD’s queries about expression to W. H. Stirling. Thomas Bridges, the catechist, had previously answered some questions incompletely [see 2643]; BJS forwards them [see Expression].

BJS answers CD’s query about when some calves show their adult colour.

Thanks BJS for W. H. Stirling’s answers [to queries about expression]

and for information on cattle and breeding of dogs.

Discusses a rare shell found by BJS on the Beagle voyage, an account of which has just been written by Davidson [possibly in Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 20 (1867): 81–3].

Gives CD the results of some calculations for "dip" over different distances, as requested.

Congratulations on George Darwin’s performance at Cambridge.

Sends photo of four Fuegians, including Jemmy Button’s son.

Reports incident of two wild stallions on the Falklands acting together in an attempt to take a troop of mares from an introduced English horse [see Descent 2: 241].

CD thanks BJS for photographs of Jemmy [Button]’s son

and for the curious case about stallions, which leads him to ask whether BJS has observed that horses when fighting try especially to bite each other’s necks.

Does he know anything about male seals fighting?

Writes of his son’s affairs.

Is reading Variation and discusses a point relating to feeding habits of horses.

Describes siege [of Montevideo].

Reports on appearance and habits of horses and cattle of Falkland Islands; wild rabbits and pigs. Geology of the Falklands, especially of West Island. Discusses supposed discovery of coal. Has sent fossil specimens to CD.

Tells of his health and family matters.

Congratulates CD on being honoured by Oxford.

Discusses the state of Tierra del Fuego and the success of missionaries there.

Congratulates BJS on his K.C.B.

In autumn he will publish a book partly on man [Descent], which he expects "many will decry as very wicked".

Thinks the success of the Tierra del Fuego mission is wonderful.

Sends copies of a mission magazine [missing] and discusses the missionaries’ work in S. America, especially that of Thomas Bridges and W. H. Stirling.

Thanks BJS for a journal and an interesting letter.

Describes stratification of cliffs on south shore of Rio Gallegos; fossils found at base of cliffs. Speculates about geological past of the area. Discusses climate of southern Patagonia; navigation problems at the mouth of Rio Gallegos.

Gives results of soundings taken between Falkland Islands and South American mainland. Describes geology of Falklands, especially the dikes found on many islands. Comments on climate of Falklands. Discusses horses and cattle, health of his children in the Falklands. Mentions volutes found in the Falklands.

Passes on report of FitzRoy’s policies as governor of New Zealand.

Congratulations on Leonard Darwin’s success at Woolwich Academy.

Mentions the current activities of his own sons and of some old acquaintances.