Has been in France, conveys good wishes from Quatrefages.

Describes the fossil of an unusual mammal head from Brazil.

Good of HF to tell him about Brazilian beast. So intermediate a form is "very glorious". Must assume it is very old.

Further description of the Toxodon-like mammal, Typotherium.

Sends information about Pliocene fauna of the "Forest Bed" of the Norfolk coast.

A genus described as extinct by Owen is found by E. A. I. H. Lartet to exist in Russia.

Edouard Suess attributes to Oswald Heer and HF the generalisation "That the time during which a new species is formed, is (as a rule) very short in comparison with the time during which it persistently presents the same peculiar specific characters". [Edouard Suess, "Über die Verschiedenheit und die Aufeinanderfolge der tertiären Landfaunen in der Niederung von Wien", Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien (Math-naturw. Klasse) 47 (1863): 306–31.] [See 4277.]

Thanks for information about Pliocene mammal. Interested in relating process of formation to duration of the species. Oswald Heer’s view that species suddenly formed surely false.

Bad summer with much sickness. Going to Malvern [for water-cure] for a month.

Muddled over phyllotaxy and made out nothing.

HF will send E. Suess’s paper [Edouard Suess, "Über die Verschiedenheit und die Aufeinanderfolge der tertiären Landfaunen in der Niederung von Wien", Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien (Math–nat. Klasse) 47 (1863): 306–31] which deals directly with natural selection.

Sends address.

Comments on BAAS meeting at Newcastle.

Is having E. Suess’s essay [see 4284] translated; will forward it as soon as it is done.

Returns a letter wrongly addressed by CD [4361].

Encloses list of CD’s publications.

Describes CD’s qualifications for Copley Medal.

Council of the Royal Society have awarded CD the Copley Medal.

[Copley] Medal very great honour. Cordial thanks.

Chuckled over [Gaspard-Auguste] Brullé and pupils.

Splendid converts in Rudolf Leuckart and Carl Gegenbaur.

Hopes CD will be able to receive the Copley Medal in person. HF sees it as doubly significant in recognising CD’s work and as a protest against the profession of religious as opposed to scientific faith.

Gratified to receive Copley Medal. Cannot attend anniversary [of Royal Society]. Would HF receive medal for him?

Is sure that any of CD’s friends would be proud to accept the medal on his behalf.

The [Royal Society] President’s address is in the Reader [4 (1864): 708–9], but one or two sentences have been omitted.

Much pleased by Edward Sabine’s address.

Grateful to HF for his interest [in the award of Copley Medal to CD].

No summary available.

Encloses letter [missing] which he believes will clear up the part he played in Edward Sabine’s Presidential Address. Does not wish CD to think that he did not support the Origin.