Asks CD why some living forms have evolved and others have not.

Introduces his son Casimir, who is visiting England.

Gives his opinion on the education of girls in physiology. Would regret that any girl who wished to learn physiology should be checked.

Asks if CD agrees with Carl Claus’s Grundzüge der Zoologie [3d ed. (1876)], in separating tunicates from molluscs.

[Draft of letter for Francis Darwin to write to SF.] CD declines to express an opinion on SF’s query.

Reports on his work. Relationships of shells found at Steinheim; attempts to elucidate the genesis of different forms.

Writes of his admiration for CD and requests an autograph or photo.

Would like Price’s address.

Has "the missing link" been found in New Guinea, as he read in the newspaper?

Offers CD the nest of a foreign bird pressed on him by a neighbour.

Asks to have some funds of the Down Friendly Society transferred.

Thanks AN for telling him of the complex cross among wagtails. CD is surprised that so much close interbreeding does not check their propagation.

CD does not suppose he will ever have strength to work up his data on hybridism, so he will not write to Mr Monk.

TABS is pleased that CD found something of interest in his researches in Crete [Travels and researches in Crete (1869)].

Orchids [2d ed.] will soon be published.

1000 more copies of Descent [2d ed.] will soon have to be printed, so CD could send any alterations to be made in the plates.

Sends nest of a Uruguayan bird.

Sends photographs of himself.

Thanks CD for book [Cross and self-fertilisation]

and Francis Darwin for publications.

Discusses publication of CD’s essays in three German popular periodicals.

Haeckel is ill.

German translation of George Darwin, "Marriage between first cousins" [1875] has sold 250 copies.

Encloses extract [missing] on a caterpillar.

Mentions William Buckler’s magnificent drawings of caterpillars [The larvae of the British butterflies and moths, Ray Soc. (1886–91)], but doubts Buckler will lend them for any Darwinian purpose. John Hellins has a portion of drawings and is more liberal.

Has read CD’s note on the scarcity of holly berries ["Holly berries" (1877), Collected papers 2: 189–90] resulting from the scarcity of bees. Believes the shortage of bees resulted from the wet year 1875, which led to a very poor honey harvest.

Observations on and explanations of the scarcity of fruit and berries (especially holly berries) evident that year.

GMT’s observations [on scarcity of holly berries] throw doubt on CD’s conclusions [see Collected papers 2: 189–90].