Thanks for congratulations on George’s attaining Second Wrangler.

George will try for a fellowship at Trinity.

CD believes real education begins after school days.

Promises to send coral specimens.

Arrangements to dine at JDH’s club.

Asks GHKT about eyes of screaming elephants.

Sends stamps to the value of 1s. 1d. and asks for parcel to be sent to 6 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, London.

Thanks for papers.

Discusses case of the Asturian plants and HH’s view of their introduction through the agency of man. Although botanists question whether plants are thus introduced, those working closely on insular floras are admitting this view more and more.

Supports relocating the Calcutta Botanic Garden to a site near the Himalayas.

Asks ADB to perform experiment on colour perception in bower-bird.

Asks for rabbit specimens.

THH’s offer to read proof of essay on man encourages CD to write with satisfaction instead of a vague dread.

Begs Mrs Huxley not to forget corrugator supercilii in a crying child.

Testimonial for James Archer, who leaves CD’s service after six months.

Thanks MW for his essay [Die Darwin’sche Theorie und das Migrationsgesetz der Organismen (1868)]. Is highly gratified that MW agrees with him to a considerable extent.

Almost wishes that he could believe in the importance of isolation to the same extent as MW.

Asks to borrow Philosophical Transactions, vol. 157, pt 2 (1868).

A cheque written out for FD has never been presented to CD’s bankers.

CD seeks information on the variation of ocelli within species of butterflies.

Congratulates FH on graft-hybrid of potato. Importance of FH’s discovery to be discussed in Variation [2d ed., 1: 420].

Thanks for plant names.

H. C. Watson a renegade about natural selection. Discusses HCW’s views.

F. Müller’s letter enclosed.

Friedrich Hildebrand’s experiments are splendid for Pangenesis [Die Geschlechter-Vertheilung bei den Pflanzen (1867)].

CD exasperated by Dallas’ delay in finishing index [for Variation]. "I am prepared to throw the Index overboard."

Thinks JM should reconsider publishing a translation of Brehm’s Thierleben. It is excellent and would "sell largely".

CD was frustrated by the delay [in producing index for Variation], but was quite mollified by WSD’s note; is sorry the work turned out so badly for him.

Thanks RT for drawings of ocelli, especially for the description of ocelli of S. African Saturniidae. Would like to know of any cases in which the ocelli are confined to the male, to illustrate better the case of the peacock.

CD thanks JBI for contribution to Down school.

George [Darwin] has passed his examination at Cambridge;

Henrietta has been poorly.