CD has forgotten about S. J. O. Horsman and the church organ and asks for any information that will help him inform his solicitors in connection with a document he has received and encloses. Will not apologise for what he said, but is ignorant of what it was.

Sends enclosure copied from letter of F. C. Donders [7207?] dealing with orbicular muscle. Asks about secretion of tears resulting from spasmodic action of orbicular muscle.

Has forwarded FDuCG’s book [Natural history of the Azores (1870)] to Dr Hartlaub.

Asks about eyes of camel when the animal is uttering a loud sound.

Discusses his blunder in "confounding the two foramina" [in the skull] of apes [in Descent].

Discusses views of George Rolleston, St George Mivart, and Huxley on the occurrence of the foramina.

Comments on FCD’s 1848 work [see 7582] in which he came near to anticipating CD.

Comments on FCD’s paper [on action of the eyelids, see 7203]. Asks about contraction or dilation of the iris due to emotional states, illness, or prostration.

Thanks TRRS for copy of his book [Essays on Darwinism (1871)].

On reading Descent was reminded of having seen, on a visit to an idiot asylum with her father [J. S. Henslow], a woman with long pointed ears.

Thanks AHB for her letter about girl with pointed ears.

His undying gratitude to her father [J. S. Henslow].

Thanks him for information on children with hairy backs.

Discusses paper by J. M. Duncan on the relative weights of male and female infants.

Discusses his concept of beauty. "I daresay I have made too much of natural selection".

Discusses action of the platysma in a state of fear.

Thanks correspondent for information about a dog.

Thanks correspondent for item of criticism in a foreign newspaper.

Thanks for his election to the Austrian Imperial Academy.

Is sorry ES has suffered in health.

Comments on MF’s "little essay" [see 7800].

Invites him to visit.

Comments on dubious story involving natural history of Formosa. Suggests that Robert Swinhoe could give an answer.

Thanks FCD for information about eyes [for Expression].

Must interrupt work on the subject to prepare new edition of Origin [6th].

Comments on gift of a new work by FCD [possibly "Die Projection der Gesichtserscheinung nach der Richtungslinien", Arch. Opthalmol. 17 (1871) Abt. 2: 1–68].

Thanks JTM for information on ants.

Mentions letter "from a Texas gentleman" Gideon Lincecum describing ants that plant seeds [see 3082].

Notes that fly orchid is unattractive to insects. Asks JTM to attempt fertilisation experiment with this plant.

Invites MF to visit.

Asks where he can obtain curare for plant experiment.

Thanks him for curare.