Cannot believe in possibility that the duck is a hybrid, but correlation accords with some other facts.

Requests specimens of berries and more information about the Madresfield Court vine.

Thanks for A. E. Brehm’s Thierleben [2d ed. (1876)].

Sends an enclosure [missing] concerned with a very provoking delay.

Sends his signature

Thanks for volume on craniology

and for suggestion to Austrian Government that CD receive volumes on Novara voyage.

Requests return of August Weismann’s letter which refers to eggs.

Curious about the drawing [of the caterpillar? See 10780].

Sends forms to be signed so that the trustees of the Down Friendly Society may be properly registered.

CD has harangued the Down Friendly Club. Does not think it will dissolve.

CD’s opinion of a specimen sent by JBI from an unknown tree, and the Ross-shire tale about it.

Thanks RAV for valuable letter [11232]. CD too ignorant of anatomy to form a decided opinion, but is inclined to attribute spiral folds to reversion and the valves to partial abortion of the fold. Asks RAV to verify by examining lower intestine of an opossum for the structure. If missing he would hesitate to allude to reversion. If RAV can prove the nature of these remnants it would be a conclusion of much interest.

Suggests various remedies for toothache.

Authorises publication of a Bohemian edition of Origin.

Encloses his £3 subscription to JBI’s Sunday School. Asks to reduce it in the future to £2 per annum.

Has been unwell.

CD disappointed in Pusey’s sermon against evolution [Un-science, not science, adverse to faith (1878), sermon read by H. P. Liddon at St Mary’s, Oxford, on 3 Nov 1878]. Does not agree that religion and science can be kept as distant as Pusey desires. Geology and biology must deal with history of earth and of man. But that is no reason for bitter hostility.

Orders a sheet of gold-beater’s skin for plant experiments.

It will give CD real pleasure to propose HWB for F.R.S. Asks that he send him the necessary information for the certificate as well as a list of men he would like to sign it. He should not be disappointed if not elected first time. [Bates elected F.R.S. 2 June 1881.]

Read GA’s book [The colour-sense] with "great interest". Makes criticisms and suggestions.

Cannot believe in GA’s theory of the origin of pleasure and pain.

Is glad he defends sexual selection;

CD finds A. R. Wallace’s explanations "mere empty words" and for many years he has "quite doubted [ARW’s] scientific judgment".

Considers the possible effect of environmental colour on the colour tastes of animals.

Has GA seen an article on GA’s Colour-sense by a great man, J. R. L. Delboeuf, in Revue Scientifique 24 May 1879? It has pleased CD greatly.

Asks for a character reference for a former servant of correspondent.

DM may show CD’s letter [to the Royal Society].

Pleased that his old paper should have stimulated DM to such excellent work.