Rereading Journal of researches, particularly on Buenos Aires and varieties of cattle observed there [pp. 145–6]. Reports a case of a cow in which the characters of the niata and two other breeds were combined.

French translation of Descent all but complete.

Hopes translation of Origin will soon be finished.

Thanks CD for copy of Descent; wishes it had appeared earlier so that he could have made use of the facts in his Principles of psychology [2d ed. (1870–2)].

On private property, with regard to tools and arms; comments on Maine’s book and the history of law regarding property.

Agrees that social instinct or love for fellows is the beginning of moral feeling. Responds to CD’s letter [7537].

Thanks for letter and invitation to come to Down.

Sorry about CD’s bad health; Brazilian climate has improved his own.

Sorry to hear Miss Butler is dead.

Praise for gentle but resolute tone of Descent.

Reports case of apparent consciousness of complicity in an elephant.

Believes that Darwinism is applicable to Greek language.

Thanks for copy of Descent. Dining with Vernon Lushington, who is jubilant over the book.

Referring to CD’s passage on monkeys’ acquiring taste for tea, coffee, and tobacco, AN tells of three monkeys he kept in Australia that developed strong taste for rum and smoking tobacco without being taught in any way [see Descent, 2d ed., p. 7 n.].

Has seen Ogle. His subject [olfactory nerve tissue and absorption of odours] has often occupied JT’s attention.

Thanks for Descent.

Reveals that it is his own family that has the movable scalp.

The Franco-Prussian war has held up the publication of the 17th and last volume of the Prodromus.

Reminds CD of earlier promise to permit extracts of Descent to be translated and published in EA’s Revue Scientifique once entire work is printed. Book appeared weeks ago, so EA again requests permission. Revue has been appearing irregularly owing to war with Germans.

JM will print 2000 more copies of Descent as a second edition [issue]. Profits should be large as expenses are small.

Comments on points made in Hensleigh Wedgwood’s letter [7470] on moral sense in Descent.

Answers CD’s letter [7560], on points of agreement between them, the chief one being the sympathy which man has with his fellows. Disagrees however with CD’s "principle" of the painful feelings of dissatisfied instinct.

Clarification of the supra-condyloid foramen in humans and animals.

Relation of surplus vigour of males to sexual selection.

Very glad about profits of book. Glad CD flummoxed Mivart.

Requests permission to quote from CD’s letters to Charles Boner in her edition [of Memoirs and letters of Charles Boner (1871)].