Urges WDF to send trap he has invented to the exhibition and competition of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Advertisement of Brailsford’s Patent Vermin Trap enclosed.

The Copley Medal is considered a great honour, but such things make little difference to CD, except for the several kind letters he received. It shows that natural selection is making some progress.

His health is poor.

Work is crawling on Variation;

occasional botany recreative.

Bad health during last six months has prevented scientific work.

News of family.

Sorry he cannot remember where S. Filippe [San Felipe?] is.

Doubts that bones of ox, sheep, and horse could have been deposited in guano [on coast of Chile], but they would be worth examination.

[Tipped in copy of Origin (1866) with CHM’s bookplate.]

There is so much detail in Variation that WDF will never be able to finish it. Some chapters, like that on reversion, are "curious".

Is working on "Sexual selection"; asks WDF to send observations on birds’ finding new mates during breeding season [see Descent 2: 103–7].

WDF’s letter gives CD the kind of facts he wants. His story about peacocks is so good that CD will quote it [Descent 2: 46].

Pleased WDF approves of his book [Variation]

– "beloved Pangenesis disagrees badly with many".

Reminds WDF to write about the "great magpie marriage". Sexual selection an "everlasting subject".

News of his children.

Asks for information on instances of sexual preference in animals and data on numbers of males and females born in various domesticated species.

Much interested in WDF’s letter on inheritance and courtship of birds. CD "in a great muddle" on many points.

Asks for further information on proportion of sexes in sheep.

Has just sent MS of Variation off to printer. Is in darkness about its merits.

News of family and their health. Riding seems to help him.