Response to Insectivorous plants. Surprised that CD did not discuss origin of the contrivances. Critics will interpret them as inexplicable by theory of natural selection.

Glad to hear that ARW is so busy.

CD believes that he has thrown some light on the acquirement of the power of digestion in Droseraceae [in Insectivorous plants].

Thanks for Climbing plants [2d ed.].

Is reading proofs [of Geographical distribution (1876)].

E. R. Lankester has been unfairly blackballed at the Linnean Society. He is to be proposed for a second time, with CD seconding the proposal. Urges ARW to attend the ballot.

Is glad ARW will attend to vote for Lankester [at the Linnean Society].

Response to ARW’s "grand and memorable work" [Geographical distribution (1876)]. Most interesting part to CD is ARW’s "protest against sinking imaginary continents".

Comments on CD’s criticism of Geographical distribution.

Plans to sell his house.

Further detailed comments on Geographical distribution.

Base treatment [of George Darwin] by Mivart in Quarterly Review [137 (1874): 40–77].

Has finished Geographical distribution; sends his comments.

Responds to CD’s comments and criticism of Geographical distribution.

Responds to CD’s new work [Cross and self-fertilisation]. Suggests results might have been more convincing if CD had measured weights instead of heights. The fact that infertile hybrids have not been produced means that the "one great objection" has not been got rid of: the physiological characteristic of species. Suggests an experiment to produce "sterile mongrels" which would remove objection.

Thanks for new edition of Orchids.

The remarkable papers of Mott on Ernst Haeckel ["On Haeckel’s history of creation", Proc. Lit. & Philos. Soc. Liverpool 31 (1876–7): 41–89].

The part played by carbon in geological changes.

Thanks CD for Forms of flowers.

Further objections to "voluntary" sexual selection. Believes that he can explain all the phenomena of sexual ornaments and colours by laws of development aided by simple natural selection.

Excited by Thomas Belt’s "oceanic glacier river-damming" hypothesis. The last paper, "Glacial period in the Southern Hemisphere" in the Quarterly Journal of Science is particularly fine.

Response to Wallace’s article ["The colours of animals and plants", Macmillan’s Mag. (Sept 1877)] on sexual colours and "voluntary" sexual selection.

Sexual selection, he thinks, must be left to others to settle. "Conscious" will be substituted for "voluntary" selection. Sound- and scent-producing organs attributed to "natural", not "conscious", selection.

Further discussion of evidence for sexual selection. Prefers "conscious" to "voluntary" action. Distinguishes features that serve as charms and those that serve as challenges.

Requests support for his appointment as Superintendent of Epping Forest.

Working on a book [Australasia. Stanford’s compendium of geography and travel, edited and extended by A. R. Wallace (1879)].

Supports Epping Forest appointment.

Continues work on vegetable physiology.

Thanks for CD’s support for [Epping Forest] appointment. Doubts about the proposed management.

Admiration of ARW’s ["The origin of species and genera", Nineteenth Century (Jan 1880)]. Good use of Allen’s "admirable researches".

Disappointment about the Epping Forest appointment.

Farrer’s article in Fortnightly Review.