Henrietta’s illness.

CD’s resort to [E. W. Lane’s] water-cure.

Other family news.

Etty [Henrietta Darwin] much improved.

Reference to his "hobby of striped asses".

Sceptical of JBI’s "curious stories" on spirit-tapping: "believe nothing one hears & only half of what one sees".

Going to sea-side for Etty’s health.

Asks JBI further questions about a striped donkey he had reported to CD.

Etty has had a relapse. "What the end will be, we know not."

News of Etty’s health and of neighbours.

Pleased that JBI likes Origin.

CD never expected to convert people in less than 20 years, though now convinced he is "in the main right". Bishop of Oxford’s review made "splendid fun" of him.

Delighted to have Quiz [Johnny Innes’ dog].

Arrangements for receiving Quiz.

Quiz arrived safely.

CD’s three sons are in bed with bad colds.

Has heard of mules of canary and other finches breeding occasionally, but it is rare, and there is hardly one authenticated case of two such mules breeding together.

Sixteen of the household at Down are sick with influenza.

Quiz has had to be killed because he became vicious.

Horace Darwin strangely ill.

Does not think the supposed cow–deer hybrid worth investigating.

John Robinson [the curate at Down] reported to be walking with girls at night.

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.