Thanks WO for a paper and for information about platysma. Has asked several persons to observe the muscle during a shivering fit, but all have failed.

Requests further information on subsidence of flagstones because of action of worms.

Sends notes on left- and right-handedness from observations made on his eldest son as an infant.

His admiration for the papers of AG [see 8119].

Relates his recent discovery that earthworms have brought to surface no less than 161 tons of dry earth over an area of 10 acres, thus creating the conditions for significant denudation. Would welcome information about the persistence of ridges and furrows in old pasture lands ploughed centuries ago. Do they run down the slopes or transversely? Refers to [A. C.] Ramsay, [James] Croll, Elie de Beaumont, and [Henry] Johnson.

Is obliged for valuable letter [see 8123] and encloses queries about the manner of gradual obliteration of ridges or furrows in old pasture lands in various parts of England.

Gives details of his experiment to test his observations of the downward flow of worm-casts.

Refers to [Lyon] Playfair, [A. C.] Ramsay, and AG’s edition of [J. B.] Jukes, [A student’s manual of geology, 3d ed., 1872].

Has sent photographs of insane woman to be engraved. Assumes JC-B has no objection.

Is making immense use of JC-B’s MS. The book ought to be described as "by Darwin & Browne".

Discusses new edition of Descent.

Acknowledges StGJM’s kind letter. [See 7451.]

Offers to alter the "dogmatic assertion" referred to on page 102 [of StGJM’s On the genesis of species] but in 5th ed. of Origin and in Variation CD finds only qualified expressions.

CD apologises for having thought that StGJM’s religious feelings had led him to feel personal animosity towards him. [See 7454.]

He remembers having thought and written that belief in evolution is infinitely more important for science than belief in Natural Selection. For his own part he would have felt little interest in evolution apart from the explanation "in a general manner" of how each organism is so adapted to its conditions.

Receipt for payment by John Murray of £630 for the first edition, consisting of 2500 copies, of Descent.

Gives his opinion on four papers by J. P. M. Weale.

Encloses two questions he hopes MF can answer: the mechanism of transmission by nerves; and the mechanism by which contemplating part of our body, we become conscious of its existence

"If you feel astonished at my bringing man & brutes so near together in their whole nature (though with a wide hiatus) I feel still more astonished, as I believe, at your judgment on this head. I much wish you had enlarged your concluding sentence a little so as to say whether you consider the ordinary mental faculties so distinct, or whether you confine the enormous difference to spiritual powers including the moral sense.––"

Comments on CVR’s book [Third annual report on the noxious, beneficial, and other insects of the State of Missouri (1871)].

Discusses mimetic insects.

Agrees to have his name on the list of naturalists to whom annual report [on zoological station] should be sent.

His health has been very bad for last six weeks.

Has no idea about length of index [for Descent]. W. S. Dallas wrote it would take ten days more. Asks how many presentation copies he may have. Lists journals to receive review copies.

Suggests periodicals to receive review copies [of Descent].

Is "ashamed at my corrections".

Discusses mailing of presentation copies [of Descent]. Sends addresses of A. R. Wallace and St George Mivart.

Asks that review copy [of Descent] be sent to F. P. Cobbe.

Discusses mailing of presentation copies.

Asks that a presentation copy [of Descent?] be sent to Edward Blyth. Comments on publication.