Asks readers to examine the flowers of Oxalis bowei to observe where the summits of the branching stigmas stand with respect to the two sets of anthers. In CD’s plants the stigmas stand beneath the lower anthers, but he believes two other forms exist: long-styled and mid-styled. Would be grateful for flowers of these types so he can fertilise them and obtain seed.

Describes the difficulties of crossing papilionaceous flowers. Believes the lack of success is a consequence of the need for early castration and successive applications of pollen on the stigma. Gives details of a method he has used to cross such flowers successfully.

Will be glad to see JDH at Down.

Hopes to arrive with MS of "Insular floras" on Saturday.

Returns two volumes of Felix Holt [George Eliot (1866)]

and the Coddington [lens].

John Smith will send Drosera.

Nation reports that Louis Agassiz holds that the Amazon Valley was formed since the glacial epoch.

Comments on sheet of EH’s Generelle Morphologie [1866]. In emphasising divergence of character EH shows his clear understanding of CD’s views. It was years before CD saw necessity of divergence.

Interested in Carl Claus [Copepodenfauna von Nizza (1866)].

On various subjects: Dana’s misquotations,

H. J. Clark’s book Mind in nature [1865],

BDW’s Cynips experiments, galls,

Balbiani’s paper on aphids ["Sur la reproduction et l’embryogénie des pucerons", C. R. Hebd. Acad. Sci. 62 (1866): 1231–4, 1285–9, 1390–4].

Claus and other Germans testing CD’s views of variability in common lower animals.

Is looking for CD’s book [Variation]; does not know whether it is yet published.

Thanks for observations on orchids.

FM’s paper on climbing plants [see 5146]; CD has received proofs.

Carl Claus’s pamphlet on copepods [Die Copepodenfauna von Nizza (1866)].

Family news. Describes [final] illness of Susan Darwin [d. 3 Oct 1866]. CD’s health better.

Making rapid progress on Variation.

Has heard of hybrids between moths mentioned by WDF.

Work on [4th] edition of Origin has delayed Variation.

Hopes to make good arrangement for publication of CD’s Variation.

Agassiz claims to have proved all of America was covered with unbroken ice during the glacial period.

BAAS lecture on "Insular floras" [see 5135] went well.

Pleased by JDH’s success. JDH gives argument for occasional transport with perfect fairness.

W. R. Grove’s address [see 5201] good, but is disappointed that species part was so general.

Responds to CD’s criticism of his handling of adaptation theory [in Rep. BAAS 26 (1866): liii–lxxxi].