Much interested in WDF’s letter on inheritance and courtship of birds. CD "in a great muddle" on many points.

Asks for further information on proportion of sexes in sheep.

Thanks for [Natürliche] Schöpfungsgeschichte [1868]. "What an indomitable worker you are."

Agrees with EH’s Entstehung des Menschengeschlechts [1868].

A letter strongly recommending him for the post of Assistant Secretary of the Geological Society.

Arranges to call on GHL.

Suggests FH’s graft-hybrid potatoes should remain with FH.

Sends addresses of Alfred Russel Wallace and Alexander Wallace for August Weismann.

Acknowledges receipt of £259 11s. 10d.

Obliged for JH’s good account of Francis Hardy’s management of Beesby Farm.

Thanks for Botanische Zeitung notice of CD’s paper ["On the character and hybrid-like nature of the offspring from the illegitimate unions of dimorphic and trimorphic plants", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 10 (1869): 393–437]. FH writes clearest style of all German authors.

Asks that August Weismann be told about papers by Wallace and Bates.

Is interested to know whether there are differences in the period of development of horns in sheep in those breeds in which horns are common to both sexes, and in those in which horns are confined to males.

Thanks AG for Animaux fossiles et géologie de l’Attique [1862–7]. Refers to Lyell’s quotation from AG as "one of the most striking I have ever read on the affiliation of Species".

Will propose GHL for the Linnean Society.

Writes of his objections to GHL’s views.

Considers Weismann’s remarks on the importance of the nature of the organism as well as conditions of life in determining variability have much truth.

Congratulates EH on birth of child.

Mentions projected translation of Generelle Morphologie.

Comments on EH’s last book [Natürliche Schöpfungsgeschichte]. Criticises EH’s statements on palaeontology.

Comments on glaciers in North America.

Asks if glacial periods have occurred alternately in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Relevant to his glacial discoveries in South America: "it would have been an immense relief to my mind if I could have assumed … this". CD wishes to discuss subject in new edition of Origin [5th].

Thanks for information on fowls.

Glad to see extracts from Blumenbach about sexual differences in fowls.

Advises THF that best plan is to investigate the part certain structures play with all plants or orders, instead of describing means of fertilisation in particular plants. Naturalists value observations far more than reasoning.

CD thought Watson’s article beastly in its criticisms of JDH. Watson’s criticism of CD was not new or important, but fair, so CD could honestly thank him, adding his regret at what was said about JDH.

Is sitting for Woolner bust.

Has read James Croll on alternation of glacial and warmer periods in north and south, which would remove JDH’s objections to cool period extending to equator.

Thanks JP for congratulations on success of George Darwin at Cambridge.

Does not have time to investigate propagation of Cardamine.

Delay in translating Für Darwin.

Comments on plan to repeat CD’s experiments on illegitimate offspring.

FM’s observations on stridulation.

Asks whether the spurs in the young of Pavo muticus are developed earlier or later in life than in the young males of Pavo cristatus.