CD overwhelmed by THH’s praise.

Agrees with his reservations about species theory but not wholly about sterility and gives his reasons for differing.

On Natural History Review, Hugh Falconer, and R. Owen.

Has written a review [Collected papers 2: 87–92] of H. W. Bates’s paper ["Contributions to an insect fauna of the Amazon valley", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 23 (1862): 495–566].

THH’s efforts to obtain Copley Medal for CD fail. Thanks THH for kind words of sympathy.

On six-fingered men: suspects increase confined to metacarpals and digits. Has asked James Paget to look it up.

It is not carpal or tarsal bones that are increased [in six-fingered men] but generally only the digits and metacarpals.

Pectoral fins of fish and sharks.

Asks THH to check P. M. Roget’s statement that there is a rudiment of a sixth digit in frogs.

[P.S. missing from original.]

A note reminding THH to examine the rudiment of the 6th toe on the hind foot of a Batrachian.

Thanks for "monkey book" [Evidence as to man’s place in nature (1863)].

Must wait till he has finished Lyell [Antiquity of man (1863)].

Two criticisms (one by Henrietta Darwin) of THH’s Lectures [to working men].

Praise of Man’s place.

Owen’s muddling letter in Athenæum [21 Feb 1863, pp. 262–3].

Is disappointed in Lyell’s excessive caution on species and origin of man [in Antiquity of man].

Has caught a frog and examined its possibly rudimentary toe. Asks THH if he will dissect it.

Has heard THH is abused in Edinburgh Review and in Anthropological Review [reviews of Man’s place in nature, Edinburgh Rev. 117 (1863): 541–69 and Anthrop. Rev. 1 (1863): 107–17].

Owen on heterogeny and the aye-aye.

Has been very ill.

Will be obliged if Flower examines specimens. States questions he wants answered.

Thanks for Lectures on the elements of comparative anatomy [1864].

If Owen wrote article on "Oken" [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 8th ed.] and French work on archetype he never did a baser act [see ML 1: 246 n.].

Bad health lately.

Thanks for his book [Physical geology and geography of Great Britain, 2d. ed. (1864)].

Pleased that ACR’s glacial lake theory is progressing. New Zealand lakes support the view. Suggests he write to Charles Gould in Tasmania, calling his attention to glacial action.

Admires THH’s article on Kölliker’s and Flourens’ criticisms of Origin [in Natural History Review (1864): 566–80].

Appreciates THH’s note more than Medal.

Encourages THH to write a popular treatise on zoology.

Sends Mrs Huxley a quotation from Tennyson, with sarcastic comment.

His suspicions regarding [Edward] Sabine’s treatment of CD were justified by the Anniversary Address. THH, [George] Busk, and [Hugh] Falconer insisted on a more accurate account of the grounds on which the Copley Medal was awarded to CD.

Thanks for photograph, charmed by Mrs Huxley’s letter.

Regrets THH cannot do the popular work on zoology.

Has heard THH wrote leading article in last Reader ["Science and ""church policy"" ", 4 (1864): 821].

Thanks for Catalogue.

Has had a bad month. Somewhat improved as a result of John Chapman’s ice-bag cures.

Asks THH to read MS on his hypothesis Pangenesis. THH only man whose judgment on it would be final with him.

Thanks for THH’s willingness to read Pangenesis MS. Thinks some such view will have to be adopted but it overthrows, in an uncomfortable manner, ordinary development.

Impressed by Tylor’s book [see 4836].

Encloses admirable note from Huxley on Lyell–Lubbock affair.

Thanks THH for reading Pangenesis MS. Will read Buffon and Bonnet (as he does not want to republish their views) and will try to persuade himself not to publish.