Is studying Descent.

Raises two questions for CD: on the great percentage of female illegitimate births compared with legitimate,

and on clothing as accounting for hairlessness of humans.

Demand [for Descent] is such that JM thinks he will have to print 1000 more copies. Does not want to trouble CD for corrections.

Is delighted at the sale of Descent. What CD says about her help pleases her very much and the proposed gift as a memorial will be very precious to her. Is looking forward to seeing the family in London. Comments on a letter comparing CD's appearance to an ape. Is surprised CD has had no effect on Wallace: 'It seems to me his mind can’t be so clear as u used to think it'. Has worked out why she is dissatisfied with T. H. Huxley's essay ‘On the physical basis of life’ (T. H. Huxley 1869).

Completes payment for 2d issue [of Descent]; has sold 1300 of the 2000 copies printed. Will probably print 2000 more for 3d issue.

On the case of a male acquaintance with two pairs of mammae.

Unfortunately he has missed an opportunity to review Descent in Nature.

Gives CD permission to use photographs of expressions.

Anecdotal comments on various sections of Descent:

Red Indians erecting their ears;

reasoning in a pet antelope, stag deer, and mongoose;

use of foot as prehensile organ by carpenters in India.

Thanks for £50 contribution to Edward Cresy’s memorial. £1000 collected so far for an annuity for Mrs Cresy.

Answers CD’s questions.

Reception of Descent. Evolution accepted everywhere; descent of man accepted calmly.

Morocco plans.

Fears for Huxley, who is overworked.

Thanks for CD’s letter on his review of Descent in the Pall Mall Gazette [21 Mar 1871].

Effects of first impregnation on litters from subsequent pregnancies.

Power of selective breeding to produce different varieties.

Answers to CD’s queries will take time. CD may not be aware of the influence of accommodation on the diameter of the pupil of the eye. Parrots, for example, contract or dilate the pupil independently of amount of light [see Expression, p. 304]. Sends his book on the subject [On the anomalies of accommodation and refraction of the eye (1864)].

Note on errata in first volume of Descent.

More details on children with hairy backs;

reasons for greater mortality rate of male children.

Discusses breeding fancy pigeons from the wild blue rock-dove.

Sends scraps of information. Everything he has sent is unreservedly at CD’s disposal.

On reading Descent was reminded of having seen, on a visit to an idiot asylum with her father [J. S. Henslow], a woman with long pointed ears.

Questions CD’s attribution of a sense of beauty to animals and his use of natural selection to explain phenomena JM feels it more appropriate to describe as social selection.

Many thanks for copy of Descent.

Would like to visit CD when he comes to England.