Forms of flowers will soon be published and is not a long book.

Does not suppose he will publish any more books, "though perhaps a few more papers". He "cannot endure being idle, but Heaven knows whether I am capable of any more good work".

Erratum JVC sent was due to a printer’s error after he had seen last proofs.

Thanks JVC for correcting a bad blunder in Forms of flowers.

His health fairly good; has been able to work "pretty hard".

Cannot give information requested. Seems incredible that mere contact should be poisonous.

Thanks JVC for a correction [for 3d German edition of Variation]. He is the most accurate translator that ever lived.

Neither he nor [Francis Darwin] intends publishing on inheritance.

They are working on physiology of plants [Movement in plants], but will not print for a year.

Thinks JVC’s new journal [Zoologische Anzeiger] will be of great use to students of zoology.

Sends thanks [for election to Prussian Academy of Sciences].

Appreciates the copy of address [Darwin versus Galiani (1876)].

Gives an account of his publication plans for his and Ernst Krause’s Erasmus Darwin.

CD has never even dreamed of publishing his own autobiography.

Is now working, with Francis, on plant movements.

CD has already agreed that Julius Victor Carus will translate his next book.

Thanks AR for specimens of fruit.

Thanks CB for Transylvania [1865].

CD’s health has declined steadily. He must now be content to read about nature as described by CB and others.

Has just sent MS of Descent to printers. Recognises that [because of Franco-Prussian War] the publisher will have given up idea of a German translation.

Though the war is a misfortune for science, CD rejoices at the wonderful success of Germany; has met no one who does not share this feeling.

Thanks HS for a copy of his book [? Die Thierzucht (1868)].

Sympathetic to JVC’s views on Franco-Prussian war [see 7332].

Astonished at JVC’s readiness to begin work. Will send sheets as soon as possible. Has asked Murray to charge for stereotypes of 64 woodblocks at cost. JVC must make his own agreement with publisher.

Sends first four sheets [of Descent]. Murray charges £14 for the 64 stereotypes.

Cannot supply copies of woodcuts from Brehm’s Illustrirtes Thierleben [1864–9]. Hopes JVC’s publisher will be able to arrange to include them.

Thanks JVC for his corrections. Will send other errata. Hopes to send remainder of vol. 2 [of Descent] in a fortnight.

Hopes German edition [of Descent] has not yet been printed because he has fallen into a most serious blunder [about sexual selection never acting on the young] on pp. 297–9 of vol. 1.

Corrections for Descent. Has sold 6500 copies in England.

Has finished rough draft of Expression, but will put it aside for the summer.

Will refresh himself with some curious observations on the response of plants to certain stimuli.

Thanks JVC for corrections for Descent. Index, which is too full, was hurried at the end.

Glad to hear of new German edition of Origin. He is revising the English edition, adding a new chapter of "Answers".

No new edition of Descent has appeared.

Would be glad to see a new translation of the Journal of researches, which he revised in 1845.

Comments on white colour of sea-birds.

Thanks HS for the preface to the 3d edition [of Die Thierzucht (1872)].

Has purchased H. von Nathusius’ work [? Vorträge über Viehzucht und Rassenkenntniss, Th. 1 (1872)]; feels he has ignored all that CD has attempted to make out with respect to domesticated animals.