James Paget’s scepticism about regrowth of digits. Suggests RLT experiment with amputation of digits, both extra and normal, of kittens and fowls. Fears they will fail to regrow, but, if regrowth is proved, it will be an important discovery.

The Royal Society have returned RLT’s Nepenthes paper and will not have it read because of unfavourable reports from referees.

Apologises for placing CD in the objectionable position of sponsor for a rejected paper. RLT has gone over old ground in ignorance.

Sends Thiselton-Dyer’s suggestions for references to Nepenthes,

and gives his opinion on what will influence the Royal Society’s Council in considering RLT’s candidacy.

CD sends the gist of an extremely negative report from the [Royal Society’s] physiological referee on the value of RLT’s modifications of Brücke’s process for isolating pepsin [see 10470].

Wishes to make CD an Honorary Member of the Birmingham Natural History Society.

RLT has attempted [in a paper] to apply evolution to moral life.

CD accepts membership in the Birmingham Natural History Society.

Thanks RLT for article. CD cannot quite agree that "under a theological point of view, the origin of evil is explained by survival".

Is glad RLT has not given up polydactylism.

Proposes to work on the origin of diseases; is going to study syphilis.

Is writing Diseases of women [1877]; sends some proof-sheets for criticism.

CD has only a trifling point to make in criticism [of RLT’s excerpt from Diseases of women]: he believes "the high value of well-bred males is due to their transmitting their good qualities to a far greater number of offspring than can the female".

Sends another extract [from Diseases of women (1877)].

Has reviewed Cross and self-fertilisation in the Spectator.

Wants to know how to obtain The thoughts of Marcus Aurelius, mentioned in Descent [1: 106].

Forwards a copy of his book Diseases of women [1877].

Thanks RLT for his work, Diseases of women.

CD is also interested by RLT’s letter reporting a cat rearing chickens. "What a wonderful instinct is the maternal one."

CD declines to write for RLT’s new journal. He is not fitted for the work and dislikes it particularly. It costs loss of time as he "cannot change with ease from one job to another".

Speculation on the process by which tails have been lost; believes he has evidence from man that it is related to spina bifida.

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

The honour RLT proposes [Darwin Festival] is a great one, "but would it not be better to wait until I am in my grave?"

Sends copy of Kosmos [containing Krause’s article on Erasmus Darwin].

Believes he can spare an Erasmus Darwin letter.

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