Will look for botanical specimens CD requested.

Tells of a kestrel with a broken leg which apparently was forced to change its diet to worms and snails because of the injury.

On his father’s crossing experiments with cacti, in which hybrids were found quite fertile.

On his breeding of guinea-pigs.

Sends Miss E. Watts’s message about crested fowls and Brahmas.

CD’s changing taste in periodical literature.

William Darwin’s partnership in bank.

Work: variation and orchids.

Many mutual acquaintances are ill.

Offers CD a live Proteus anguinus from Adelsberg cave. In his hands it will have a fair chance of developing into "some type of Columbidae (say a pouter or tumbler)".

The Origin is universally praised in Italy and Germany, even by those who disagree with it.

There have been delays, but William Darwin’s banking position is nearly settled.

Is going to Torquay, where he will write up his work on orchids.

Notes observations on the spread of bees in New Zealand and their importance as pollinators of clover and other introduced plants.

Trip to Torquay.

Superiority of Journal of Horticulture to Gardeners’ Chronicle for CD’s purposes.

Seeks JL’s advice on the articles of partnership in the Southampton bank. CD and his solicitor fear they will be unfavourable to William.

Has worked out homologies of orchids’ pollinia and rostellum.

On W. H. Harvey’s review ["The natural evolution of organic species considered", Dublin Hosp. Gaz. 8 (1861): 146–52].

Thanks JL and his father for advice regarding Southampton bank. Has written to Atherley for fair terms.

Orchids from Kew.

JDH’s income problems.

Has been idling and enjoying the scenery.

"At dinner we were all sticking bits of ice together by their points, marvelling at the phenomenon and talking of you."

Distribution of varieties and subspecies.

George Maw’s review of the Origin [Zoologist 19 (1861): 7577–611].

Thanks JL for assistance with William Darwin’s banking partnership; considers everything is now settled.

Is enjoying himself and doing a little work on orchids.

On orchids supplied by Kew; homologies of pollen and rostellum.

Puzzled by function of orchids’ rostellum.

Orchids’ pollen concentrated in two pollinia; hence one flower can fertilise only two others. This may explain precision of orchid pollination mechanisms.

Evidence of glacial action in Australia. [See Origin, 4th ed., p. 443.]

Has visited T. V. Wollaston, who is working hard but lives too solitary a life.

There are further legal complications with William Darwin’s partnership and CD’s solicitor wants to call on JL.

Asks JL’s advice about details of William’s proposed banking partnership. CD’s solicitor is suspicious of Atherley’s long-term intentions.