Comments on LH’s "Anniversary Address of the President", [Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 17 (1861): xxxi–lxxii]. Notes LH’s comments on metamorphism, antiquity of man, and the Bible. Thanks him for his remarks on Origin.

Asks whether WBT will read over his MS sketch on poultry when done.

Wants rabbit specimens.

Asks about distribution of Gallus and about description of Gallus temminckii, G. R. Gray.

CD will publish on Primula [Collected papers 2: 45–63]. Will DO ask W. H. Fitch to make woodcuts of "pin" and "non-pin" primroses [i.e., long-styled and short-styled forms]? Encloses a sketch.

Thanks correspondent for book on old bones.

Comments on the great extent of variations and on the acknowledgment of the new idea of greater female variety.

Expresses belief that the glacial period did affect the tropics, though HWB’s arguments have confounded him.

Poses a series of questions concerning sexual selection.

Henslow is dying.

H. W. Bates’s excellent article against glacial period [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 5 (1860): 352–3] leaves CD "dumbfounded".

H. C. Watson’s hostility.

Thanks for agreeing to read MS.

Outlines poultry breeding experiment he would like to see tried.

Asks for some unspecified items to be sent to him. The Half-lop [rabbit] should be killed, but without damaging the skull. Has not opened the box with skulls yet.

Discusses specific varieties, especially geographic varieties.

Comments on the effects of the glacial age on the tropics.

Sexual selection.