Michael Foster approves of names FMB suggested CD apply to [in proposing FMB to the Royal Society] and adds George Allman, Foster, W. H. Flower, and P. M. Duncan, the only biologists on the Council.

Complains at Albert Günther’s imputations against Charles Wyville Thomson [as a result of the dispute between Thomson and the British Museum, regarding the disposal of the specimens from the Challenger].

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.

Believes Aegiphila to be exclusively American.

Contrasts fertilisation of Australian Acacia with Brazilian Mimosa.

Corrects Descent [1: 294] on inheritance of tortoise-shell colour in cats. It does not violate rule that characters appearing late in one sex are transmitted exclusively to the same sex.

JDH has sent a short-styled Forsythia from Kew. CD surmises that all Forsythia at Kew may be short-styled, hence he is curious to know whether they set seed.

Sends a passage relevant to Pangenesis [on regional accents distinguishable in the speech of those born deaf] from Life, letters, and journals of George Ticknor [ed. G. S. Hillard, vol. 1 (1876)], p. 196.

Tells of the controversy about evolution raging in Dunedin, with clergy playing a prominent part.

Discusses further his theory relating to the soaring capacity of birds.

Mentions hybrids produced by various crossings of game-birds.

Thanks for Cross and self-fertilisation.

Discusses geographical implications of inbreeding. Can the length of time an insular flora has been isolated be estimated by its weakness due to inbreeding?

His long experience with propagation of Cytisus and other "sports".

Thanks for copy of Cross and self-fertilisation.

Francis Darwin’s observation of nectaries in Pteris is most curious.

Doubts cross-fertilisation in the rare cases of two flowers on the same stalk in Victoria and Euryale.

Notes variation in style and stamen length in Forsythia.

Is engaged in translating Hermann Müller’s Befruchtung der Blumen [1873].

Has observed Sphinx moths on Petunia.

Discusses some dimorphic plants.

Sends specimens of Rhamnus but his few specimens of Leucosmia are very poor.

Has sent Balfour’s certificate on to Ray Lankester, and encloses a certificate for Moseley for CD to sign.

Calls attention to a paper by Emil Bessels on Eskimos, which he extracts [see 10737].

CD has cited GR for material that is not his in Variation, 2d ed., 1: 469, on transmission of mutilation.

Has read and greatly admires CD’s latest book, Cross and self-fertilisation; seeks permission to translate it into French and to add some annotations. [EMH’s translation was published in 1877.]

No papers on heterostyly have appeared since 1873.

Studying anatomy of the Irish pig.

Emil Bessels’ paper is in Archiv für Anthropologie 8 (1875): 107. He connects a band of poor Eskimos encountered at Smith’s Sound with glacial man.

Describes new journal, Kosmos, to be edited by Ernst Krause. Asks CD to lend his name to journal.

Has sent Anthropogenie, 3d ed.

Will send his study [Biologische Studien, pt 2: Studien zur Gastraea-theorie (1877)] in January.

Thanks CD for hospitality at Down.

Is happy to sign F. M. Balfour’s application for admission to the Royal Society.

Remembers CD from Edinburgh days.