Argument, based on geographical distribution and competition, for a mundane glacial period rather than cooling of one longitudinal belt at a time.

Thanks JC for pamphlets.

"I do not believe in Metempsychosis nor in Genesis – & you are growing so orthodox, that you will end your days, I believe, in believing in the Tower of Babel–."

Thanks for information about natural increase of Chillingham cattle. Compares with case in Paraguay.

Requests Linum, for dimorphism study.

Reviewer of Orchids [Nat. Hist. Rev. n.s. 2 (1862): 371–6]is correct about the organisation of the book; he wonders who the reviewer is.

Praises JS’s experimenting.

Has he ever studied the relative fertility of varieties? CD very interested in this subject.

Discusses Acropera.

Wants to quote JS on Zea [Variation 1: 321].

CD sends his Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63].

Thanks JS for orchid paper [Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 7 (1863): 543–50]. JS presents excellent new facts on sterility of orchids.

His argument that coloured primroses are not hybrids is good, as is idea of discovering primrose parentage by breeding for colours.

Pleased with news of BAAS meeting

and Scott’s possible position as Thomas Anderson’s curator.

Suggests Wallace is due for a Royal Medal.

Agrees with JDH’s criticism of Lyell’s address [see 4614].

Bentham’s Linnean Society address treats continuity of life in a vague non-natural sense.

Rereading his old MS [Natural selection] CD is impressed with work he had already done.

Writing Variation much harder than Climbing plants.

Encloses request to JDH to propose, or suggest on his behalf, that the Ray Society publish a translation of C. F. von Gärtner’s Versuche und Beobachtungen über die Bastarderzeugung im Pflanzenreich (1849).

Declines writing testimonial for AN for the Cambridge Professorship in Zoology. The post requires expertise in comparative anatomy and histology, whereas AN’s work is on habits and colours of birds.

Thanks for information on Galloway cattle. [See 5614.]

Interested in WBD’s work on descent of the rhinoceros; is pleased to learn that he does not consider species to be immutable.

Wants to know how the colour of the eye of the peacock’s tail is produced, whether it depends upon colouring matter in the feathers or reflection, and whether any varying structural change will account for the series of colours surrounding it.

Congratulates WP on the success of his lectures.

Discusses the phrase "struggle for existence".

Sends a list of his papers.

Glad Dareste is candidate for Paris Chair. No subject more important than modification of structure by direct action of changed conditions, and Dareste has thrown much light on subject. Believes monstrosities cannot be separated from slighter variations.

CD would like questions on consanguineous marriages inserted in the Census to ascertain effects, if any, on fertility.

Comments on WRG’s MS on ratio of the sexes at birth.

Offers to send J. M. A. Thury’s paper ["Loi de production des sexes", Arch. Sci. Phys. & Nat. 18 (1863): 91–8].

Encloses a letter [7617] to be forwarded to the author of the review of Descent in Pall Mall Gazette.

Inquires about the effect of turf covering on the rate of disintegration of rock.

Comments on HM’s paper ["Anwendung der Darwin’schen Lehre auf Bienen", Verh. Naturhist. Ver. preuss. Rheinland 29 (1872): 1–96];

sexual selection in bees.

Encloses account on habits of Bombus.

A son [George Howard Darwin] was born on Wednesday.

Sends queries on Galapagos flora.

Discusses JDH’s comments on [Journal of researches].

CD feels that with his views on descent "really Nat. Hist. becomes a sublimely grand result-giving subject".

"How differently people view the same subject, for I look at insular Floras … as leading to an opposite view to yours."

Pollination and floral structure of Lathyrus. Asks where bees bite through the flowers.

CD wishes to acquire a piece of JL’s land.