Responds to CD’s two objections to the principles involved in the "Rules of zoological nomenclature": (1) that strict enforcement of the rule of priority would cause much inconvenience, and (2) attaching name of the first describer in perpetuity puts a premium on careless description by "species mongers".

Physical description of Sikkim mountains.

Travelling through Kinchin snows.

Transported boulders.

Continues prior letter of this date. Has received CD’s [1202]. Thanks CD for saving his correspondence.

Sent "a yarn about species" in October mail.

Some "puerile" JDH letters printed in Athenæum.

Requests CD extract anything valuable from his letters to CD and Lyell for Athenæum.

CD’s complemental males in barnacles wonderful.

Warns CD to drop his battle about perpetuity of names in species descriptions.

JDH writes to Darwin about his travels in Sikkim, specifically Kinchin [Kanchenjunga]. Account of other parts of travels, incl. Nepal, were set to Lyell. Discusses the geography of the region, comprised of many mountain spurs & two great rives, one the Teesta. Native villages built on terraces, not usually found above 5000 ft. Valleys are steep & clad in forest to 12000 ft. Discusses effect in varying mean elevation on vegetation e.g. tropical flora advances further North in Nepal. There is geological evidence of a larger body of water than the current rivers once covering the land, notably deposit of red clay to 12000 ft. Makes further detailed geological observations including notable lack of feldspar. Notes that holy lakes have no outlet but drain away underneath, describes visiting the largest of the lakes & rite performed there. Letter includes diagrams showing cross sections of the mountain ridges. Mentions a Bhothea temple: Catsuperri Goompa. Describes meeting [Archibald] Campbell & Sikkim Rajah at Teesta River & climbing a Mt with the former as high as an abandoned Buddhist Temple with an impressive view towards Bhutan & Nepal. Descended to the Great Rungeet River. Visited Pemiongchi convents with impressive paintings. Describes Yoksun [Yoksom] village, notable for being on rare flat ground, & ascent of Ratong Valley. Observes that abandoned salt trading post, Jongri, 13000 ft, is on a spur unusually covered with gravel mounds, granite boulders & little lake beds with shingle deposits, the formation of which is a mystery. Observes typical glacial & snow bed features appear in great number in Ratong Valley. Compares the forming spurs here to those in Nepal. Describes the peak of Pundim: made from Gneiss & veins of plutonic rock capped with white rock. Ends with some observations on quartz, mica schist & stratified rocks & absence of Hornblends augite or volcanic minerals. Sends regards to Wedgewoods & Bell.

JDH received letter of Oct 6, concerning poor health of Darwin. Requests that his own letters containing speculations are kept or recorded for future discussion at Down. Congratulates Lyell on his Knighthood, & Mrs Lyell. Pamphlets by Hodgson sent Oct 2. He exclaims what have Barnacles to do with ornamental poultry. He refers to his unacknowledged account of the cattle hunt in Ross’ VOYAGE [OF DISCOVERY AND RESEARCH IN THE SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC REGIONS]. He regrets the unfavourable review of his letters by the ATHENAEUM, for his father’s sake. He refers to his father’s & Bessy’s [Elizabeth Hooker]poor health. Requests that extracts from his letters to Darwin or Lyell concerning the highest mountain in the world [Kanchenjunga] be sent to the ATHENAEUM to re-establish his credit. He compares his own industry with Humboldt’s natural talents. Lightheartedly compares Barnacle behaviour with polygamy of Bothea [Bhotia] women & refers to work on Cirripedes. He urges Darwin not to fight for the perpetuity of names, referring to the pride & conflicting interests amongst naturalists, & to the fields of mineralogy & chemistry, & to Humboldt & Henslow. He discusses the presidential post [of the Asiatic Society] & dispute between Colevile & Falconer & the correspondence with them. Falconer has gone to Moulmain [Mawlamyine] to report on the Teak Timber & JDH has not heard from him in 6 months whilst a 'nobody' has been put in charge of the [Calcutta Botanic] garden. He describes the altitude sickness he suffered at 1500 feet in the 'snowy passes' & doubts he could climb beyond 1800 feet.

The priority rule has only diverted vanity to a rush to be first. Has no objection to CD’s suggestion that good books be quoted in preference to first descriptions if there is a chance by this means of developing this silly vanity into ambition to advance knowledge. Still, this must not affect the rule of priority. Responds to CD’s four cases.

Clarifies the notion and use of type-species and applies it to CD’s problem with Conchoderma.

On domestication of pigeons and hybrid geese.

Pleasure at receiving CD’s scientific letters to JDH and Hodgson.

The H. Wedgwoods’ pecuniary loss.

Condolences at CD’s father’s death.

Rajah harasses JDH’s work. Lack of supplies, rain, malarial valleys, and landslips make going difficult. Cannot get into Tibet.

"Twenty species [of plants] here [Camp Sikkim] to one there [Tierra del Fuego?] always are asking me the vexed question, ""where do we come from?""."

From observation of terraces descending to steppes and plains of India, he thinks that the Himalayas were once a grand fiord coast.

Has information CD requested on Yangsma valley. JDH’s detailed hypothesis of origin of dam there. Does not agree with CD’s interpretation.

JDH writes to [Charles] Darwin [CD], having read his letter & the one to Hodgson with interest. He expresses his sympathy for CD’s bereavement & H. Wedgewood’s pecuniary loss. JDH discusses CD’s health. The Rajah is being difficult but JDH refers all his grievances to [Archibald] Campbell at Darjeeling. He has reached the Tibetan borders north east of Darjeeling but his Lepchas are afraid. JDH discusses food & provisions; he is clear of the 'malarious' valleys. He wishes to compare the cis & trans slopes but cannot go into Tibet. He compares the landscape to Salvator Rosa’s paintings. The vegetation is rhododendron scrub with pines below. JDH describes exploring the Terai plains & discusses the geology & history of the Himalayas. JDH discusses the particulars & possible glacial formation of the Yangma Valley lake beds & terraces & includes small sketches. He refers to CD’s remarks on the granite construct of the Cordillera [Letter appears incomplete]

CD partly right. JDH was calling "stratification" what CD calls "foliation". Answers CD’s question on cleavage foliation in Himalayas. Glacial action.

Charmed by CD’s Admiralty instructions on geology [in Manual of scientific enquiry (1849), Collected papers 1: 227–50], but complains he does not give prices of books and instruments he recommends.

No summary available.

Has sent all the fossil pedunculated cirripedes in the Copenhagen collection, together with a letter from Johannes Steenstrup concerning changes he believes are needed in the descriptions.