Describes the novelties found on his recent expedition to South America sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution.

Wants to dedicate to CD book [The Andes and the Amazon (1870)] which is modelled on Journal of researches.

Receiving notes on inbreeding from T. T. Wright, who has long experience with the subject.

Reports six-toed pup.

Thanks SN for the trouble he has taken for him [on Lapland reindeer horns].

Asks JVC to ascertain the age at which merino rams develop horns, and whether they grow faster or more slowly than in other breeds of sheep in which both sexes have horns.

Asks how JVC’s translation [of Variation] has sold.

Discusses the development of horns in reindeer and other deer.

Planning to visit Gibraltar and Morocco. Is there anything he can do for CD?

Apologises for having kept JC’s book so long; would like to keep it about ten days more.

Writing to friends on CD’s behalf about deer: T. T. Wright, Archibald McNeill.

Gives details of some crossing experiments with Eschscholzia.

Describes the grass Streptochaeta, which FM believes to be a primitive grass.

Relates some observations on maize that are well explained by Pangenesis.

Sends MS of 13 pages in answer to Nägeli, for new edition of Origin [5th ed., p. 151].

Praises Variation and Pangenesis.

Reports observations on parrots and cockatoos.

Thanks GM for offer of observations. Would be interested to know when the horns of merino rams first appear,

and has long wished for living specimens of Drosophyllum.

In Gibraltar he will make notes on merino lambs and Drosophyllum as CD requests.

Criticisms of and suggestions for CD’s draft MS on Nägeli [for Origin, 5th ed.].

Forwards A. McNeill’s letter on deer horns. McNeill wrote portion on deerhounds in William Scrope’s book [The art of deer-stalking (1838)].

Red tape leaves no time for botany.

New ministry laudably attempting economies.

Finds JDH’s comments of utmost value. Answers some questions, and asks new ones. Transmission of variations. Relation of uniformity of structure to natural selection.

Expressions of emotions in Gold Coast tribes.

Differences between males and females in sexual characteristics.

Castrated rams lose horns and manes.

Female members of tribes have no difficulty getting the husbands they want.

Describes Drosophyllum and its habitat.

Replies to CD’s questions. Advice on use of term "morphology". Is much struck by CD’s idea that uniformity of an organ throughout a group implies functional inutility; the paradox of this position for classification.