Will collect the "precious animal" [deerhound puppy] from King’s Cross.

Thanks GC for information on the perch.

Asks PLS whether he will look over list of names of birds [for Descent] to make sure they are spelled correctly. "I have a most unfortunate weakness … to copy proper names incorrectly".

Thanks for the information sent by WGS in his letter of 4 November 1870.

Has read WO’s paper [see 7361] with great interest. If WO’s views are confirmed he will be able to explain many odd little details about the colouring of animals.

Can WO observe if the platysma myoides is brought into strong action in people suffering from severe dyspnoea?

Thanks PLS for his generous offer to go over the part on birds [in Descent]. Does not think PLS realises that there are more than 200 pages – most of which will have nothing new for him.

W. H. Hudson’s proofs have arrived ["Letters on the ornithology of Buenos Ayres", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1870): 87–9, 158–60, 332–4, 545–50, 671–3, 748–50, 798–82; (1871): 4–7, 258–62, 326–9].

Accepts PLS’s offer to read proofs of [Descent].

W. H. Hudson’s paper is interesting.

Discusses his present book [Descent].

Would like to hear results of JM’s November booksale.

Pleased at [advance] sale [of Descent]. Suggests 3000 copies be printed. Corrections are frightful and, CD fears, will not be done until end of year.

Thanks WO for information on platysma, which he did not know could be brought into voluntary action. Is coming to believe it has nothing to do with expression.

On the relation between white colouring and susceptibility to poisonous plants, CD suggests WO send his paper to J. Wyman and propose he investigate whether white as well as black pigs will eat paint-root.

CD has already agreed that Julius Victor Carus will translate his next book.

Sends two sheets [of Descent] for correction of names of birds. PLS will save him many disgraceful misspellings. Descent now being prepared in five foreign editions.

No summary available.

Praise for ARW’s reply [Nature 3 (1870): 49–50] to a paper by A. W. Bennett ["Natural selection from a mathematical point of view", Nature 3 (1870): 30–3] holding that mind is a leading cause of variation.

Is reading proof of his "confounded book" [Descent].

Bran [deerhound puppy] is thriving; enjoys English life.

A recommendation for George Cupples who has applied for a government pension: "I have corresponded with him on scientific subjects during several years. On some very intricate points he has been so kind as not only to collect, at the cost of much trouble, information from various sources, but has likewise made for me valuable observations".

Is pleased to hear that the translator for the Dutch edition [of Descent] is a person so well qualified [see 7384]. He encloses a facsimile of the title page. Reports arrangements with John Murray.