Answers JVC’s questions about the rock-thrush, the tortoise-shell cat, and the logger-headed duck.

Thanks for the information about the male plumage. [See 5374.] Will look to the papers in Ibis to which AN has referred him. He finds AN’s theory captivating.

Would like Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel’s photograph, but JDH should give CD’s address to FAWM.

Thanks for letter and glad Frances Harriet Hooker goes on well.

Do not send St Helena earth.

Hopes JM’s friend will give his judgment [on Variation] soon; and urges JM to come to a decision about publishing. CD believes it will have "a fair sale".

On final instalment of "Insular floras" [Gard. Chron. (1867): 75]; rejoices at extent of their agreement.

Some criticisms of JDH’s position on geographical affinities, and volcanic islands.

CD agrees to JM’s proposal of half-profits. Thinks it a mistake to print only 750 copies. The agreement on half-profit is for first edition only. CD estimates his book at a higher value than JM does.

Is convinced his chapter on man [for Variation] will excite plenty of attention and abuse, which he supposes is as good as praise for selling a book.

Asks for a note about sling for Leonard’s arm, as he is about to leave for school.

Thanks for information about rudimentary organs. Asks about rudimentary character of human hair and panniculus carnosus.

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.

CD’s Variation is in printer’s hands.

Orchid self-sterility.

On the Duke of Argyll and a review of his Reign of law.

Asa Gray’s theological view of variation. God’s role in formation of organisms; JDH’s view of Providence.

Insular and continental genera.

Owen on continuity and ideal types

and on bones of Mauritius deer.

On man.

Thanks WT for information.

Will not include chapter on man in Variation but plans separate essay in future.

Asks for specimen [of Eozoon] for J. V. Carus of Leipzig.

CD thinks JVC’s preface is fair to Bronn. Regrets JVC has not added notes of his own, but, having dropped Bronn’s appendix, it is perhaps best to leave the text without comment. Rejoices that the German public can now judge the Origin fairly.

Has written to W. B. Carpenter for a specimen of Eozoon to send to JVC.

CD now acknowledges that the sometimes very great sexual, i.e., ornamental, differences in fishes offer a difficulty to the view that females are not brightly coloured on account of the danger to propagation of the species.

Asks to meet EB for a walk in the Zoological Gardens.

Is so unwell he must cancel appointment to meet at Zoological Gardens.

Discusses JPMW’s paper on Bonatea [see 5411].

Mentions Robert Brown’s views on pollen.

Observations on orchid self-sterility.

Wants information on characters that may have originated through sexual selection in lower animals.

Encloses queries on expression.