Does not think the supposed cow–deer hybrid worth investigating.
John Robinson [the curate at Down] reported to be walking with girls at night.
Describes an animal that is said to be a hybrid between a cow and a deer.
Has received JBI’s two letters; agrees with him, but does not know what to do about [the alleged misconduct of] John Robinson. Reports in a long postscript on vain efforts to confirm rumours. Suggests JBI come to Down to see how affairs stand.
CD gets so many foolish letters from foolish people he has little heart to write to friends.
Gives Down news.
R. H. Hutton, editor of the Spectator, is a clever man.
CD has been much abused, praised, and chaffed by newspapers lately.
CD has forgotten about S. J. O. Horsman and the church organ and asks for any information that will help him inform his solicitors in connection with a document he has received and encloses. Will not apologise for what he said, but is ignorant of what it was.
CD’s anxiety about being examined in court if Horsman [former curate at Down] brings suit. He doubts it will happen, but if so will defend himself to utmost.
Has pleasant recollections of his relations with JBI.
CD’s health has been poor.
Appreciates JBI’s letter and his expression of friendship.
In the opinion of a Q.C., Horsman has no case.
Not surprised that JBI does not agree with him. Many professed naturalists do not. But there has been a great change since publication of Origin, and CD believes agreement on man will come soon, "as far as his corporeal frame is concerned".
Horsman has not been heard from.
Kind to send seeds of Aquilegia Brodii. Gives news on her sons. Glad of recent rain to help the hay.
Parish and family news.
Francis Darwin’s marriage; Francis serves as CD’s assistant.
On colour changes in rabbits. Suspects JBI’s is of impure origin.
Is correcting proof of Insectivorous plants.
News of the parish and neighbours.
CD pleased JBI is interested in his book [Cross and self-fertilisation].
He is pretty well and hard at work with Francis.
Sends forms to be signed so that the trustees of the Down Friendly Society may be properly registered.
CD has harangued the Down Friendly Club. Does not think it will dissolve.
CD’s opinion of a specimen sent by JBI from an unknown tree, and the Ross-shire tale about it.
CD disappointed in Pusey’s sermon against evolution [Un-science, not science, adverse to faith (1878), sermon read by H. P. Liddon at St Mary’s, Oxford, on 3 Nov 1878]. Does not agree that religion and science can be kept as distant as Pusey desires. Geology and biology must deal with history of earth and of man. But that is no reason for bitter hostility.
JBI’s "barnacles" would have been extraordinary, but they are hard lichens.
Has revisited Cambridge.
Hensleigh Wedgwood has told CD that land JBI had inquired about will be sold at auction with the house [Trowmer [Tromer!?] Lodge].
CD interested in JBI’s observations of behaviour of bees. Finds his criticism about hexagonal cells made by queen wasps a good one. Cannot remember how he got out of the difficulty.
His book on worms to be published soon.
E. A. Darwin has died after short illness.
Wasps’ nest has arrived.
Gives his view of how queen wasp builds a hexagonal cell by straightening walls between several cells, which she builds at the same time.