Sends tuber of Chilean wild potato, requested through Hooker and P. L. Sclater.

Plans to exhibit a bird’s foot with a large ball of clay attached. This phenomenon supports CD on seed dispersal.

Tells CD where to pick up the partridge’s foot with the ball of earth attached; sends a copy of his remarks on the same. [See Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 13 (1864): 99–101.]

Marvels that seeds from the lump of clay on the partridge’s foot have germinated. At Zoological Society [J. E.?] Gray ridiculed him. Now Frank Buckland would like to see the specimen.

CD need not worry about having discarded the partridge’s foot.

Asks CD to support his candidacy for Professorship of Zoology at Cambridge. Since he has spent many years travelling, he is not well enough known at the University.

CD need not apologise for not writing a testimonial for him. He knows comparative anatomy, although he has confined his publication to ornithology. Agrees that with a few members of the University a recommendation from CD would be harmful.

Thanks for new edition of Origin [4th ed.].

Has met CD’s son [George] at Trinity College.

Suggests that, in some birds, plumage of males is less colourful than that of females; the reason is that the males perform the duties of incubation [see Descent 2: 204 n.].

Male dotterels take care of young and are less brilliantly coloured than females.

Thanks CD for present [of Variation].

Congratulates CD on success of his son George in mathematical tripos.

Regrets Frank [Darwin] did not pass the Trinity scholarship examination, but he hears Frank did well on the viva voce part.

Pleased CD is willing to help the University’s Museum of Zoology; he encloses the printed appeal.