Sends errata for German edition of Variation.

On expression among Kaffirs.

WSD is pushing forward as fast as he can with [index to] second volume [of Variation]. The work is fearfully heavy.

Regrets that the remarks in his letter [5712] seemed to CD to be criticisms. Nothing was further from his intention. He is working hard. "The subjects often seem to elude the Index-maker."

Will return Federico Delpino’s two pamphlets soon.

Discusses the reception of CD’s views at Cambridge and elsewhere.

Variation delayed by the index, but will appear at the end of the year.

CK is drawn into discussions of Darwinism everywhere in Cambridge. The climate has changed in the past three years: the younger M.A.s are greedy to know more and the criticism of the older Fellows has a new tone.

Hopes to get afternoon train from Victoria.

Woolner comes on Sunday morning.

A sermon.

Sexual differences in reptiles, especially Indian [see A. Günther, The reptiles of British India (1864)].

The Cyprinodontidae family of fishes exhibits sexual differences as remarkable as any in reptiles or birds [Descent 2: 7, 9–10].

Thanks AG for information.

Has received a copy of an attack on CD ["Darwinian theory examined"] from the author, but does not know who it is.

Sends a copy of his paper in Ibis [2d ser. 2 (1866): 88–109] on the birds of the Azores,

and one by G. R. Crotch on the Coleoptera [Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1867): 359–91].

Left his box of plants in dog-cart [on his visit to Down].

Will be pleased to receive FCG’s paper. Already has that of [G. R.] Crotch. Encourages further independent work.

Invites RT to come to Down for a week-end.

CD is obliged for a note by JS on crossing the Victoria regia, just received from Hooker; encourages JS to further experiments, saying there is much to be learned on self-fertilisation of plants.

He is vexed that CD has had to write again about the index. He has no excuse except "the nature of the work itself".

Asks CD to write a letter on his behalf to John Murray. CJG plans to translate Eduard Maetzner’s Englische Grammatik [1860–5] if publication can be arranged.