Requests orchid specimens for experiment.

CD accepts membership in the Birmingham Natural History Society.

Thanks RLT for article. CD cannot quite agree that "under a theological point of view, the origin of evil is explained by survival".

Is glad RLT has not given up polydactylism.

Comments on Fritz Müller’s article on Hedychium.

Thanks for WTT-D’s kindness about the orchids.

AG’s Darwiniana [1876].

Cross and self-fertilisation has now gone to press.

Is preparing new edition of Orchids.

Asa Gray’s directed variation would make natural selection superfluous.

CD has read new theological reconciliations of Darwinism and religion.

Glad EH is coming to England.

Will be visiting eldest son in Southampton in September [but visit apparently delayed until 7 Oct, see "Journal"].

Thanks GdeS for his Recherches sur les végétaux fossiles [1876].

Glad to have heard JL’s admirable speech read aloud.

Thanks for RDF’s Australian orchids [1874]. It comes just as CD’s Orchids [2d ed.] is going to press.

Asks for tougher paper to be used for maps in Coral reefs, 2d ed.

Thanks GR for his notes and essays [see 10581].

Similar appendages to those GR mentions [see 10581] appear on the necks of goats, but the idea of reversion to a common progenitor of goats and pigs "stumps" CD.

His thanks for the present of Haeckel’s work.

He will be much gratified to have MMR translate Origin if the state of his country permits. [See 10580.]

Thanks for A. E. Brehm’s Thierleben [2d ed. (1876)].