[Valediction only.] CD note on verso: Athenaeum/48/p. 839 "E. Forbes on genera being continuous in time––good––fact".

Though correspondence has never ebbed so low, CD is constantly in his thoughts.

Observations on cheetahs used as domesticated hunting animals.

Finds geographical barriers sometimes separate species, but also finds species that remain separate where there are no barriers to migration.

Colour "individuates" isolated animal species.

Plains and alpine animal distribution show altitude not strictly analogous to latitude.

Impact of timber cutting on climate has led to extinction of crocodiles.

Will discuss coal formation in letter to Edward Forbes.

CD often asked whether isolated mountains in southern latitudes had closely allied representatives of Arctic and north temperate plants; JDH has found a representative barberry.

Making for Darjeeling via Calcutta.

At Madras [Chennai] JDH asked about cheetahs. Conveys observations on their domestication & hunting. Describes hawking practices & birds used. Observes that natural features separate species but this is only one factor, e.g. different antelopes found on either side of River Soane which should not be a barrier to migration. The different types of Indian elephant also an example of races in districts. Discusses kinds of wild & domesticated dogs & cattle. The native Bison is extinct. Sciurus maximus: Peninsular Squirrel, is example of locality-specific colouring. From behaviour of alpine & plain species observes animals are more able to adapt to heat than cold, altitude a factor. JDH wants a specimen of an alligator from Zillah Shahabad. Deforestation changing climate & killing crocodiles. Observes Sand Martins nests colonised by Phalangium spiders & comments on diurnal migration of Neilgherry Ghaats [Nilgiri Ghats] swallows. Plains are alluvial deposits with interesting mineralogy. Will send Forbes a letter re. coal formation. Re. botany, as Darwin is interested in vegetation of isolated mountains, JDH comments on flora of one he climbed incl. barberry. Has found new species of Vallisneria. 4 Mar: JDH left Williams' geological survey to go to Mirzapore, Calcutta [Kolkata] & Darjeeling in Sikkim Himalaya. JDH's address is botanic garden Calcutta, care of Falconer. Recounts passage out to India. Has stayed with Sir L. Peel, Mr Colvile nephew of Lord Auckland, & at Government House. JDH hopes to join the Geographical Survey of Kamaon by naturalists, covering Sewalik hills to Tibet & Simla to Nepal. Thomson is in Yarkand studying geology & botanical geography, Cunningham in Cashmere [Kashmir] & Strachey in Chinese Tibet. Mentions Equus hermionus, an Auroch horn, his health & plan to go to Cherra Poonjee in Sylhet. Mar 8: en route to Bhagulpore down Ganges. Feb 16: will look for cirripedia for Darwin in Borneo, sends regards to Lyells & recommends Griffith's Journals.

Agrees to pay Mr Mason as requested.

Will forward recommendation of Edward Cresy to Edwin Chadwick, but thinks there will be no further need of engineers.

Brian Hodgson reading CD’s Journal of researches with delight.

Forwarding breeding pamphlets.

JDH recommends P. S. Pallas on degeneration.

CD’s facts on sex in barnacles startling.

Hugh Falconer’s health.

JDH delighted by letter from [Charles] Darwin [CD]. [Brian Houghton] Hodgson reading CD’s journal & has some pamphlets on breeds etc for CD from the ASIATIC SOCIETY JOURNAL. Wonders if CD knows of Pallas’ memoir on degeneration of animals. JDH in very good health. [Hugh] Falconer has been unwell but is much better & is trying to get his English time to count towards his length of service. JDH wishes the Darwin’s were all well. Finds CD’s fact about male & female barnacles startling. The Surveyor General [Colonel Waugh] has announced measurements of one of the Himalayan mountains [Kanchenjunga] which make it the highest in the world.

Is sorry that any person has misunderstood his intentions. JEG read his papers on cirripedes at the Zoological Society without intending to interfere with CD’s work; he merely wished to record his old observations, made before CD commenced his study, and thought that by so doing he was helping CD. [See "Description of a new species of Anatifa" and "On Thaliella", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1848): 44.]

He can distinguish varieties of guinea-fowl as soon as birds are hatched.

Behaviour of Malay hens.

Concerning the measurements of Balanus specimens with respect to growth.

Hugh Falconer’s misbehaviour.

Waiting out rains at Brian Hodgson’s.

Will make botanical transverse section of Himalayas from plains to snow.

Arrangements to pass Sikkim Rajah’s territory.

No evidence of glacial or diluvial action in sub-Himalayan mountains. No evidence of detrital coal formation.

Hodgson’s replies to CD on introduced species and hybrids.

Apologises for being a poor correspondent to [Charles] Darwin [CD] & [Charles] Lyell. At Darjeeling, JDH is staying with [Brian Houghton] Hodgson [BHH]; a Himalayan naturalist. JDH collects beetles. Discusses [Hugh] Falconer's health, work, East India Company pension & bad behaviour; incl. offending the Asiatic Society President, Colvile. For the rainy season JDH has sent out collectors for live plants & is drying them himself. JDH has not been above 10,000 ft but must see that flora to complete a transverse section of the range & its botanical regions. Lord Dalhousie is seeking permission from the Rajah for JDH to go to Sikkim. Permission granted to travel through Nepaul [Nepal] to Tibet passes. In Dec will explore the Terai recording the rocks, plants, climate & zoology. Has formed good idea of the main plants that define the 'central region'. Discusses geology of the region incl terraces & structure of the mountains. Explains composition of the soil, concentrations of organic material & coal deposits- Mueller does the chemical analysis. Discusses elevations of glaciers. Speculates on geology of Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] & the sudden transition from the sub Himal to higher peaks. The Himalayas need to be studied fully to understand their makeup, so far only the North West corner is known, nobody has explored east of the Kemaon [Kumaon]. JDH is anxious to be the first in this terra nova. BHH sends CD some pamphlets to share with Waterhouse. Relates BHH's answers to CD's questions re: climate for seedlings in India, cultivation of European vegetables, tea plants at Cathmandu [Kathmandu], introduction of the Junma goat, interbreeding of Axis medius & Hemitragus quadri-mammis & Yak or Bison with Buffalo to produce zobos, breeding of wild & domesticated fowl & dogs , bulls covering deer like Rusa hippelaphus, the habits of Tussa silk moth. Duel, death & children of Captain C.. Sends wishes to Darwin family, Wsdgewoods, Westwood, Forbes, Lyells, Horners, Owen & Bell.

Gives details of the illness of R. W. Darwin.

Informs CD of the death of their father and the funeral arrangements.