Thanks THF for information from Colonial Office on population statistics showing the inhabitants of some areas are far from becoming sterile.

Orders a copy of Dassen 1837, Onderzoek aangaande de bladbewegingen (research on leaf movements), published in Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie IV p. 106.

Asks for a specimen of Pinguicula.

Invites FG to visit.

"With kind regards, & many thanks for Prof. Steenstrup’s Photograph, which is most highly valued by C. Darwin"

Returns and sends comments on Clarke Hawkshaw’s essay ‘The persistence of forms of life in the depths of the sea’.

On the "doubtful & obscure" subject of marriage of cousins, CD believes, that judging from the analogy of animals, no direct evil would follow from their marriage. He would, however, expect the offspring of unrelated parents to be somewhat superior in size and vigour. The injury from the increase of any bad tendency common to the family seems to CD more to be feared than mere consanguinity; "the good effects of crossing distinct families I look at as great & undoubted".

Thanks for facts on inheritance

Thinks CST’s paper (C. S. Tomes 1874) about the enamel on the teeth of the armadillo is most remarkable.

Encloses a statement and circular he has been asked to send to JL.

Thanks for JWS’s updatings to his Darwinian bibliography and regrets he is a poor German scholar.

Although he formed a high opinion of one of the correspondent’s papers, regrets that he could not presume to give an opinion of the merits of a candidate in chemistry.

Asks FD to come early to write from dictation.

Thanks Amy for her drawing of Utricularia montana.

Invites WO to lunch.

Regrets that a cut [for Descent] does not do justice to TWW’s original drawing and if it cannot be improved then CD will have to omit it. [Refers to fig. 60 in Descent (1874).]

Regrets the trouble GHD has had.

CD sends thanks for the honour conferred by his election as an honorary member, though ill health may prevent his taking advantage of the privileges granted.

Thanks for two pamphlets.

Sends Thomas Belt’s [The naturalist in Nicaragua (1874)], "the best Nat. Hist. book of travels ever published".

Has no objection to having his name appear as honorary member of [unidentified] club.

Requests help for George Darwin’s investigation of marriages of first cousins. Seeks to determine proportion of first-cousin offspring among the insane, deaf and dumb, blind, etc.

CD has previously received information on colours of greyhounds. Now asks whether breeders rear all puppies, and, if not, do they selectively rear more males or females?