Cannot come to Down to meet B. J. Sulivan as W. H. Harvey is calling.

Plant distribution and soil nature.

Forbes’s modification of Watson’s types of vegetation.

JDH will write comparison of representative plant species of the N. and S. Hemispheres.

CD sends a copy [of South America] to Gardeners’ Chronicle and refers to a passage on Patagonian salt; asks for backing and specific information supplementing his suggestion that an added chloride would increase the salt’s preserving power.

Comments on LJ’s Observations [in natural history (1846)].

Discusses variation among British birds, and the conflicting treatment of bird species by C. W. L. Gloger and C. L. Brehm.

Describes collecting incident of his student days involving Carabus.

Mentions squirrels eating insects.

Astonished to hear of terrestrial Planaria.

Comments on BAAS meeting in Southampton.

Concerned about Father’s health.

Forwards a letter from FitzRoy.

Dr Erasmus Darwin’s scientific prophecies are the talk of London.

CD has been stomachy and sick, but not very uncomfortable.

Working on proofs [of South America] and cannot keep printer supplied with manuscript.

His thoughts of her, and news of the children who are at Down with him.

News of progress in remodelling. He and Etty [Henrietta] miss the rest of the family.

Was sick, but "two pills of opium righted me".

Looks forward to LJ’s volume [Observations in natural history (1846)].

Observations on what the world would call trifling points in natural history are always very interesting to him. Deplores their absence in foreign periodicals.

Is slaving away to finish S. American geology.