Sorry to hear of CD’s poor health.

Is hard at work examining Ceratodus.

Encloses discussion of Mus species with functionally prehensile tails.

Encloses argument against freshwater fish entering the sea.

On Huxley’s article for Contemporary Review [see 7977] confuting Mivart. It has cheered him,

for he is very low about his mother’s state.

Is also in detestable position with "my lord and master", A. S. Ayrton. JDH has denounced him to the [First] Lord of the Treasury [W. E. Gladstone] for his conduct.

ARW's reservations about human evolution.

Anecdote about a gathering of kangaroos.

Thanks for Chauncey Wright’s article. Admits it is clever, but hardly expected CD to think it a serious defence of his position.

Asks CD’s opinion of his suggestion that a distinctive mark of species may be the duration of pregnancy, incubation, or germination.

Sends some articles on mammals [possibly "On the relations of the orders of mammals", Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 19 (1870): 267–70, and "On the characteristics of the primary groups of the class of mammals", ibid. 20 (1871): 284–306].

He is a disciple, convinced of CD’s theory of evolution and of natural selection.

In the U. S. almost all refuse to recognize natural selection.

Publisher would like to produce a translation of Expression. JVC offers to translate it.

Sends passage from Albertus Magnus on colour of horses.

Offers explanation of white colour of sea-birds.

Schweizerbart is now reprinting Descent, nearly all the first 3000 copies having been sold;

new editions of Origin

and of Variation are also planned.

Possibility of a new German translation of Journal of researches.

Will give printer orders to set up first six chapters of Origin [6th ed.]. Murray thinks a glossary [of scientific terms] might be advisable, if not longer than ten pages. Will offer W. S. Dallas £10 for it.

Is preparing paper on breeding ["Breeding facts and principles", J. Farmers’ Club (1871): 45–53]. Seeks CD’s advice and assistance. Believes male parent influences external appearance and female the internal organisation.

Is preparing a work on fertilisation of flowers, and wants to add a list of works containing observations on cross-fertilisation of plants. Asks CD for any references he may have.

Answers CD on transitional forms. Has no doubt Zeuglodon is transitional form between Carnivora and Cetacea.

Met Mivart in Manchester. Some doubt that he was the author of Quarterly Review article.

Encloses notes [missing] that he has made for CD on looking through his dried skins of American Anatidae.

Thanks CD for copies of the pamphlet [Darwinism (1871)].

His memoir on phyllotaxy [Mem. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. n.s. 9 (1867–73): 379–415] will soon be printed.

Has met CD’s sons.

On structure and function of the cetacean larynx.

Has seen CD’s sons.

CD has omitted in all his works one of the most interesting causes of variation, domestic or wild – i.e., frightening of a pregnant animal; quotes case of eight-footed horse from a French translation of G. S. W. von Adler.

Is glad his notes on ducks are useful; would like them back when CD has finished with them as they might help him to put the South American Anatidae in order.

Replies on how Egyptian geese feed in the water; they do not move heads laterally like ducks sifting water; they tear herbage like common geese.

Returns CD’s MS [for Origin 6th ed.] on the defensive organs of the Polyzoa, with his comments.