Lateral teeth in Arcadae.

Gives CD page references [in The new statistical account of Scotland, vol. 14, pp 446, 507] for information regarding parallel roads.

Note on editorial details concerning names of fossil shells [for South America, appendix]. The Latin for "Darwin" is "Darvinius".

Thanks JWL for having acceded to CD’s wish to acquire a piece of land to provide a sheltered walk at Down.

Describes his reasoning in classifying CD’s Turritella ambulacrum specimens into two sorts. GBS holds that distinguishing characters, whether of species or varieties, should always be noticed. [See South America, appendix, pl. III, fig. 49.]

Enclosed MS by Lieut. W. Christopher misrepresents CD’s views. Contains errors in zoology.

Disappointed with Webb and Berthelot.

Delighted to hear of more species from the Galapagos, surprised to hear W. Indian character of flora.

Sends identifications of CD’s Bahia Blanca fossil shells [see 830].

Goes on the assumption that each species has one origin, is immutable, and migrates.

Disagrees with Gaudichaud[-Beaupré] that volcanic island species are polymorphous.

Some mundane genera vary, others do not (Senecio vs Gnaphalium).

John Lindley’s doctrine of longevity of trees is amazing.

Edward Forbes’s health is better.

Orders John Pye Smith’s book [Relations between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of geological science (1839)].

Will come to visit Kew if Claude Gay speaks English. Otherwise would prefer to wait until spring.

Gives his opinion on the tropical character of fossil shells listed by CD. The shells of Navidad [Chile] are not particularly tropical.

Will visit JDH in spring.

Will JDH ask Gay what birds, reptiles, or mammifers inhabit Juan Fernández [Island]?

Has JDH seen William Herbert’s paper ["Local habitation and wants of plants", J. Hortic. Soc. Lond. 1 (1846): 44–9]?

Thinks JDH’s explanation of polymorphism on volcanic islands is probably correct.

Proposes experimental test to see whether alpine form of a plant is inherited like a true variety.

Has had to make a Post Office order to JDH payable at Charing Cross instead of Kew.

Does Sir William [Hooker] know the Dean of Manchester’s London address?

Thanks for note on Atlantic dust.

Suggested in private to Edward Forbes that bird migration might follow lines of now sunken land.

Has admired WT’s work for years.

Will some day publish on variation.

Sends enclosure for JDH to read [letter from E. Forbes, 956]. "I cannot see my way about his post-miocene land."

Answers CD’s objections with botanical and geological arguments supporting the existence of an ancient post-Miocene land extending over what is now the Mediterranean and past the Azores in the Atlantic [EF’s "Atlantis" theory in "On the connexion between the distribution of the existing fauna and flora of the British Isles and the geological changes which have affected their area", Mem. Geol. Surv. G. B. 1 (1846): 336–432].

Glad to hear of JDH’s botanical appointment [with Geological Survey].

Edward Forbes has written about his subsidence doctrine; CD objects to its hypothetical base.

Thanks for Edward Forbes’s letter. Botanical evidence conflicts with parts of his theory but supports others. Is becoming more of a migrationist.

Bentham agrees with JDH on polymorphism.