A founding member of the Royal Agricultural Society sends information on the specificity of sheep varieties to soil types.

Has already written a testimonial for [?William Ramsay] McNab as Professor of Botany. Hence what he can write for EPW will not be of much use.

CD has read several papers by E. Perceval Wright and has a high opinion of his abilities and great zeal for natural science.

Sleep movements in Oxalis acetosella.

Can FG come to lunch on Monday?

Sorry FG has not been well and is soon going abroad.

Sends family news;

describes what remains of his "menagerie" and tells of his interest in the framework of his son’s German badger-hound.

Astonished at circular and will risk revolutions to invest. Describes Blidah, Algeria.

Thanks CD [for his increased allowance?].

Writes of his tour [in Algeria].

Has sent FM’s letter on caddis-fly to Nature ["On a frog and caddis-flies", Nature 19 (1879): 462–4].

Encloses a letter [from Fritz Müller, see 11839] which "eminently deserves to be published in Nature". Discusses the form and illustration needed. Spelling problems to be referred to Robert McLachlan.

CD elected an honorary member of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Thanks LAE for publication [Errera and G. Gevaert, Sur la structure et les modes de fécondation des fleurs, 1ère partie (1878)].

Discusses ASW’s discovery of error in Russian belief about wheat varieties. Suggests that he publish paper in Journal of Royal Agricultural Society. [Results actually published in Gard. Chron. n.s. 11 (1879): 622–4.]

Has read Krause’s "Life of Erasmus Darwin" [Kosmos 4 (1879): 397–424]; thinks it very interesting to anyone interested in "Darwinismus" – everybody.

CD and his brother Erasmus have read EK’s article on Erasmus Darwin. Asks whether EK would object to a translation by W. Dallas, to be offered to Fortnightly Review or to be published at CD’s expense as a book.

Thanks for second edition of Duchartre.

Is reading Origin on inheritance. Reports case of a man who went bald through illness, whose three sons, all born later, also became bald.

Suggests CD send Kosmos to W. S. Dallas as Krause will surely give his permission for translation.

Glad CD is pleased by his "Erasmus Darwin". Was not able to obtain book by Anna Seward [Memoirs of the life of Dr Darwin (1804)]. Could CD check relevant passages for errors? Would be great honour if CD could arrange English translation. Wants to enlarge essay into book.

Report of wild ass crossed with tame one in India.