Discusses enclosed MS of CD’s review [of G. R. Waterhouse, A natural history of the Mammalia, vol. 1 (1846); Collected papers 1: 214–17].

Asks for address of the artist who drew the sections exhibited by WBC at BAAS meeting in September. CD needs drawings of minute corallines, Articulata, and Mollusca.

Discusses A. C. Ramsay’s article ["On the denudation of South Wales", Mem. Geol. Surv. G. B. 1 (1846)]. Mentions his own paper ["Volcanic phenomena in South America", Collected papers 1: 53–86]. Emphasises that sedimentary deposits are not ordinarily preserved.

Objects to the stupid way a plate is bound into South America.

Discusses the geological origin of terraces.

Mentions R. I. Murchison’s paper ["On the superficial detritus of Sweden", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1846) pt 1: 349–81].

Comments on Tertiary beds of South America. Doubts that durable formations are now accumulating. Discusses formation of trap-rock. Notes effect of decomposition of lava; discusses action of submerged gravel on underlying rock.

Tells RH that he has secured an introduction to Lady Elizabeth Finch through a friend of his father’s. Thanks RH for his efforts.

Belittles the loss of a book borrowed from CD.

Acknowledges cheque in payment for purchase of microscope for John Lubbock.

Arranges to meet with WBC to get his advice about buying a microscope.

Asks CL to address a letter to Charles Maclaren.

Discusses recent publication by David Milne on erratic boulders [Edinburgh New Philos. J. 42 (1847): 154–172].

Views of Bernhard Studer on foliation of gneiss in the Alps. Asks CL to tell Leonard Horner of Studer’s views.

Quotes from South America [p. 167] on the foliation of metamorphic rocks.

Comments on investigation of coral reefs by A. A. Gould, particularly the reefs around Tahiti. Mentions description of reefs of Tahiti by W. Forbes.

Hooker’s view of work by C. J. F. Bunbury.

Has received copy of CL’s Principles [7th ed.].

Comments on reading Annales des sciences naturelles.

David Milne’s and Robert Chambers’ views on Glen Roy.

Mentions sales of South America.

Describes visit to his father at Shrewsbury.

Comments on correspondence between CL and Whewell [concerning university reform].

Criticises S. G. Morton’s "Hybridity in animals" [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 3 (1847): 39–50, 203–12].

Questions Mrs W on difference in flight capacity of male and female silkworm moths and asks her for results of experiments he suggested she do with silkworms to determine hereditariness of dark "eyebrows". [See Variation 1: 302.]

Asks about collection of mollusc specimens he had lent to Richard Owen.

Asks about seeing cirripede collection of the College.

Comments on larva of Scalpellum.

Thanks Mrs Lyell for barnacle specimens.

Mentions Agassiz’s classification of saurians.

Discusses letter from Chambers on "roads" in Scottish glens; views of Agassiz and Buckland on the glens.

Is reading Hugh Miller [First impressions of England and its people (1847)].

Discusses enclosed figures on elevation of terraces in several Scottish glens as surveyed by William Kemp and David Stevenson. Comments on Robert Chambers’ view of the terraces. Mentions a letter on the terraces, originally written for publication, which he has asked Robert Jameson [editor of the Edinburgh New Philos. J.] to destroy.

Orders pot of soft spermaceti ointment.

Offers HM-E some specimens of Lernaea, a crustacean parasite on Balanus elongatus.

Mentions opinion of Harry Goodsir about a form CD believes to be the larva of Lernaea.

Accepts AC’s offer to conduct hybridisation experiments, and offers suggestions.

Sends book [Journal of researches, 2d ed. (1845)].