Thanks for notes on worm-castings. Amount of ammonia surprises CD. David Forbes asserts that published analysis of carbon in vegetable matter valueless. Suspects that worms search for food and do not blindly swallow earth.

Thanks GHD for extracts, but says the subject of music is beyond him.

Suggests that GHD deliberate over one or two sentences of his paper on dress ["Developments in dress", Macmillan’s Mag. 22 (1872): 410–16].

Refers to prospective marriage of Amy [Ruck and CD’s son Francis].

Comments on HM’s paper ["Anwendung der Darwin’schen Lehre auf Bienen", Verh. Naturhist. Ver. preuss. Rheinland 29 (1872): 1–96];

sexual selection in bees.

Encloses account on habits of Bombus.

"Be so good as to send me Unsere Zeit with Julius Frauenstädt’s article ["Darwin’s Auffassung des geistigen und sittlichen Lebens des Menschen" n.s. 8 (May 1872), 597–605]. I am much obliged for the information."

Comments on CL’s Principles of geology, 11th ed.

Discusses natural selection in man.

Encloses a testimonial for AG [in support of his application for a promotion at British Museum].

Does he agree with Carl Gegenbaur’s paper on the limbs of fish [Jenaische Z. Naturwiss. 5 (1870): 397–447]?

Asks what caused G. R. Gray’s sudden death.

Will FD try to persuade A. D. Bartlett to show a live snake to a porcupine and observe whether the porcupine rattles the quills on its tail? [See 8333.]

Is the horned toad of Oregon a batrachian or a lizard?

Hopes AG will be promoted in the British Museum.

Wishes to insert R. B. Litchfield’s remarks [into Expression] but will not give them as his own.

Acknowledges election as Honorary Member of the New Zealand Institute [now Royal Society N. Z.].

Is sorry JDH cannot come to Down.

Hopes the House of Lords "pitch into the accursed fellow" [Ayrton].

Thanks for information on sexual colours in pigeons.

Will send latest edition of Origin.

Comments on drawings of hostile dog and affectionate dog.

Sends small gift of money.

Please to send to Briton Riviere the block with the drawing of the dog, and a new block of the same size.

Sends £35 as his subscription towards the building of a vicarage.

Comments on migration as a factor in evolution. Suggests pamphlet by August Weismann on the subject [Über den Einfluss der Isolierung (1872)].

Agrees to contribute £10 towards a new road in the area of Beckenham, although he doubts whether the road will be of much use to him.

Discusses books about cats and crosses in cats. Thanks her for her book on cats.

Agrees to care for FG’s rabbits and will breed from them.

Plans to go to Southampton for ten days.

Invites correspondent to dinner and overnight the next Friday, and gives directions at length from London to Down. "I have heard from Mr Litchfield that you are in London … will you give us the pleasure of seeing you here".