Health has been poor but eczema is improved.

A "squib" about Owen and Huxley on the brain has appeared in Public Opinion [3 (1863): 497–8].

Recommends that CD visit Dr MacLeod’s [hydropathic] establishment near Ilkley.

His bad health has caused him to return to Malvern.

Emma cannot find the gravestone of their child, Anne. Asks WDF whether he can remember its location.

Gives directions to CD’s daughter’s [Anne’s] grave.

Would like to come to Down to visit.

Congratulates CD on the Copley Medal.

The Copley Medal is considered a great honour, but such things make little difference to CD, except for the several kind letters he received. It shows that natural selection is making some progress.

His health is poor.

Work is crawling on Variation;

occasional botany recreative.

Thanks CD for his Lythrum paper [Collected papers 2: 106–31].

Tells of the birth of his 16th child. Has five grandchildren.

His second son [C. W. Fox] has a studentship at Christ Church, Oxford.

[Isolated fragments only.]

Bad health during last six months has prevented scientific work.

News of family.

Is looking for CD’s book [Variation]; does not know whether it is yet published.

Family news. Describes [final] illness of Susan Darwin [d. 3 Oct 1866]. CD’s health better.

Making rapid progress on Variation.

Has heard of hybrids between moths mentioned by WDF.

Work on [4th] edition of Origin has delayed Variation.

Wants to know whether Variation is published and how the other book [CD’s proposed volume on variation in nature] is going.

Has just sent MS of Variation off to printer. Is in darkness about its merits.

News of family and their health. Riding seems to help him.

Pairing habits of birds: polygamy among ducks and canaries.

Information on the proportion of sexes in fowls and other birds.

Congratulates [G. H. Darwin] on being Second Wrangler.

Thanks CD for Variation.

There is so much detail in Variation that WDF will never be able to finish it. Some chapters, like that on reversion, are "curious".

Is working on "Sexual selection"; asks WDF to send observations on birds’ finding new mates during breeding season [see Descent 2: 103–7].

WDF’s letter gives CD the kind of facts he wants. His story about peacocks is so good that CD will quote it [Descent 2: 46].

Pleased WDF approves of his book [Variation]

– "beloved Pangenesis disagrees badly with many".

Regrets he cannot get to Down.