There will be no objection to the French translation or difficulty about woodcuts of Orchids.

Has not yet received the information about Müller’s Facts and arguments for Darwin.

Estimates cost of F. Müller’s Facts and arguments for Darwin at £86 for 750 copies, less than £10 extra for 1000.

References to works on probability;

statistics on proportion of sexes in births in England and Wales.

Thanks for publication applying CD’s theory to moral and social questions.

CD’s queries on expression of aborigines were difficult to answer because he encounters mainly those touched by civilisation. Hopes CD did get answers.

Encloses a letter [from J. Croll?].

Has been unable to find a paper CD wanted.

Is leaving shortly for Paris.

On hybridism between the fox and dog; asks whether CD knows of a reliable case of offspring from this cross.

Does CD want details on a white cat with blue eyes, but not deaf?

Sexual differences in antelopes (Indian and African).

Sends a single specimen of Drosophyllum lusitanicum with description from F. de Avellar Brotero’s Flora Lusitanica [1804].

Discusses Portuguese ferns,

inherited mutilation,

and the earth’s geological history.

Evolution of behaviour and beauty by natural selection.

Further observations on horns of fallow deer. Sends fawn’s head.

Is forwarding potted specimens of Drosophyllum.

Will make inquiries about sheep.

Transmits letter [from Fritz Müller].

Has been asked to permit a French translation of Orchids and Journal of researches.

At work on sexual selection.

Weir’s paper on relation of protection to colour of caterpillars [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1869): 21–6; (1870): 337–9] confirms ARW’s hypothesis.

Suggests that ground ice, in Canada and similar countries, is a mode of distribution of boulders and animal and vegetable life.

Sends statement [missing] of cost and proceeds of publishing Facts and arguments for Darwin at 6s. Asks whether CD agrees to this price.

Nothing new in Lushington’s letter. Two paragraphs are offensive – that THH sought to stir up Scotch Presbyterian prejudices against Comte at Edinburgh and that he had not read Comte.

Orchids translation should goad [French] Academy into electing CD.

JDH will be sent to St Petersburg congress by Government.

Huxley on protoplasm; his address to Geological Society.

Fertilised an Aucuba with pollen of various species. Reports on results.

Thanks for money, which will enable him to complete publication. Explains principles of his physiological theory.

Book [Facts and arguments for Darwin] is being bound; it is probably too late to alter lettering.

Huxley has acknowledged receipt of VL’s letter. Both he and CD feel that some of VL’s statements were a little offensive although CD is sure this was not intended. Was glad to read the condensed statement of Comte’s claims in VL’s letter.