Discusses the ranges of species in large and small genera; difficulties involved in limiting the discussion to Britain.

Returns the Greenland catalogue, which he has kept too long.

Expresses his strong opinion that Huxley’s paper ["Agamic reproduction and morphology of Aphis", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 22 (1858): 193–220, 221–36] should be published.

Writing section on large and small genera [for Natural selection, ch. 4].

Huxley supersedes Owen on parthenogenesis.

Buckle’s History of civilisation in England extremely interesting.

List of close species taken from AG’s Manual of botany [1848].

[Copy of some rough notes.] References about species. Variations within species.

Thanks LJ for his book [Observations in meteorology (1858)].

CD has been working on his species book [Natural selection].

Has become dreadfully heterodox on immutability of species.

His work on pigeons: variation under domestication throws the greatest light on variation in a state of nature.

Discusses the variation of species in large and small genera.

Thanks AG for his list of close species.

Laments the slow progress he makes with his book [Natural selection].

Asks LJ to lend him a copy of his paper ["Variation of species", Rep. BAAS 26 (1856): 101–5] and any notes or references he has. Although CD has a large accumulation of facts, it is impossible to see and consider too many.

His health is poor.

Asa Gray’s criticism of Buckle and his comments on large and small genera.

CD suspects glacial epoch immensely long. Rates of organic change too variable to make them a good measure of geological time.

Bees’ cells are a difficulty for theory.

CD will go over his pigeon MS and then dispose of all his birds. Has Burmese fowls’ skins if WBT is interested.

A set of questions CD prepared for his meeting with WHM to discuss the geometry of bees’ cells.

Asks WDF for facts about stripes in horses and ponies.

Health has been very bad.

Is much obliged and honoured by the Diploma of the Geographical Society of Vienna.

Bees’ cells; GRW thinks hexagonal shape is accidental. Encloses notes on cells of Icaria.

Thanks LJ for his MS [of "Variation of species", Rep. BAAS 26 (1856): 101–5].

Will read it at his hydropathic establishment [Moor Park], where he is going for a rest.

"Excessively" interested in theory of bees’ cell formation.

Fears few of his pigeons will be of any use to WBT.

Hopes WBT will describe foreign poultry breeds.

CD recounts an idyllic stroll and nap – "as pleasant a rural scene as ever I saw, and I did not care one penny how any of the beasts or birds had been formed".

Comments on letter from Georg Hartung to CL dealing with erratic boulders.

Discusses migration of plants and animals.

A letter from Thomas Thomson on heat endured by temperate plants.

Confidential revelation concerning W. F. Daniell.

Georg Hartung confirms CD’s supposition from flora of Azores that icebergs had been stranded there.