Recommends papers on Styrian Cave insects and American cave animals.

Thanks THH for the delightful evening he gave Frank [Darwin].

CD has signed the enclosed with great pleasure.

AJ, a collector, would like a few lines from CD and an autographed photograph.

Is "almost certain" plant is Menispermum canadense.

CD’s health remains bad and as he grows older he becomes weaker.

Has reread JDH’s paper ["On the functions of the rostellum of Listera ovata", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 144 (1854): 259–64].

Tells of shooting wood-pigeons that had in their crops acorns that did not grow locally.

[Fragment of letter glued to 2197.]

Pigeons in Egypt alight on trees rather than on the mud hovels of the natives [see Variation 1: 181].

[Two fragments glued to 2196.]

Prepared to think world infinitely old, but not that life originated with a single cell. Questions whether geological evidence supports gradual progress in organisation. HW thought scientific opinion during Vestiges debate was against this hypothesis. Argues that presence of same senses in lower animals and vertebrates does not imply descent; assumes resemblance is due to living in same world and thus having organs for the same purposes. Wants CD to know how others may see these questions.

Discusses measurements of bees’ cells. Describes modification in structure of Melipona hive. Notes importance of natural selection.

Gives CD references to papers on eyes of lower animals.

Asks for information about birds eating berries of a mountain-ash.

Discusses measurements of bees’ cells.

Must prepare new edition of Origin.

Discusses structure of beehives. Mentions writings of Chauncey Wright on bees’ cells ["Remarks on the architecture of bees", Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. 4 (1857–60): 432–3].

Discusses measurements of bees’ cells.

Suggests it would be easier and cheaper if he were given one or two pages in preface [to Journal of researches] for two or three important errors. Would like to take out one sentence if present preface is not stereotyped. Table of contents is shabby.

Thanks WHM for information about honeycombs. Discusses his own measurements of combs.

Thanks for information about the weight of water.

Describes experiments on Drosera.

Glacial action in the Andes.

Origin of Chilean sheep.

Varieties of S. American horses.