Scarlet seed is Adenanthera pavonina. JDH’s suggestion on how disseminated.

On Herbert Spencer, "all oil no bone – a thinking pump", but his paper on sap and wood [Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 25 (1866): 405–30] is good science. His refusal to bring a specimen for analysis when confronted by JDH.

Bentham and Martin disagreement.

Speculations on New Zealand flora.

Albert Günther’s paper on fishes on each side of Isthmus of Panama [Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1866): 600–4].

On the quantity (bulk and weight) of organic life [matter].

Thinks of adding chapter on man to Variation. Asks about muscles connected to os coccyx in man and existence of other rudimentary organs in man.

Sends copy of Origin.

Is unable to answer her questions about religious implications of natural selection, but would prefer to believe that suffering in world is due to natural events.

Thanks for information. Sclater was source of statement about Numida ptiloryncha [as origin of guinea-fowl] in The poultry book [pt 12 (Dec 1866): 288].

Acknowledges a subscription to the Down [Coal and Clothing] Club.

Thanks CD for reassurance that moral and religious faith are valid independently of his theory.

Gives information about obtaining the most recent (4th) edition of Origin.

Is glad to hear that his correspondent is interested in the subject.

Thanks for calling his attention to ancestry of guinea-fowl.

Asks for a letter on the tameness of deer, written by Commander A. Boutakoff to R. I. Murchison and printed in the Journal [J. R. Geogr. Soc. 23 (1853): 93–101].

HWB sends a copy [missing] of Boutakoff’s letter, explaining that the deer were saiga antelopes and the islands were new discoveries.

Submits the MS of Variation, all excepting the section on Man.

First impressions of Haeckel’s Generelle morphologie.

Has received THH’s [Lessons in elementary] Physiology [1866]

and reread Man’s place.

Asks THH to read revised "Hybridism" chapter in new edition of Origin. Hopes it will change THH’s view.

Convinced of P. S. Pallas’ view of loss of sterility under domestication.

Thanks CD for previous communications. Asks him to send a paper relating to flowers to be read at first meeting of her ladies’ literary and scientific society.

The presentation copy [of Origin, 4th ed.] was sent to B. D. Walsh in August. Will send another.

Encloses a portion of a letter from B. D. Walsh [5319] concerning an American interested in exchanging birds’ skins.

Balbiani’s puzzling observations on Aphis.

Has finished Variation. May insert a chapter on man.

Still puzzled by seeds of Adenanthera.

New Zealand and Borneo flora problems continued.

Fritz Müller found six genera of dimorphic plants in one day.

Two parcels of MS [of Variation] have arrived. Will proceed with printing immediately after Christmas.

Thanks WT for information about rudimentary parts in man.

Analysis of New Zealand flora; proportion of indigenous annuals.

Uniform climates are poor in species.

Evergreen and deciduous vegetation: relationship to flora and fauna.