Delighted to hear of success of EH’s lectures.

Ernest Faivre [La variabilité des espèces (1868)] sees no reason to favour common descent of allied species.

Asks EH to pass German edition of Variation on to Gegenbaur.

Comments on work of Miklucho[-Maclay], Dohrn, and Bleek.

Has begun work on Descent.

Now understands importance of swim-bladder in selachians. Always imagined animal like Lepidosiren was parent form of vertebrates.

Has been nearly a month in London, collecting facts on sexual selection from breeders and at Zoological Gardens.

Astonished at hybrid of rabbit and hare. Is it certain that work was done with hare?

Thanks for two small works.

Will read essay on man [Entstehung des Menschengeschlechts] with much interest.

Generelle Morphologie reviewed by G. Bentham ["Anniversary Address", Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (1867–8): lviii–c].

Extremely sceptical of hare–rabbit hybrid.

Thanks for [Natürliche] Schöpfungsgeschichte [1868]. "What an indomitable worker you are."

Agrees with EH’s Entstehung des Menschengeschlechts [1868].

Congratulates EH on birth of child.

Mentions projected translation of Generelle Morphologie.

Comments on EH’s last book [Natürliche Schöpfungsgeschichte]. Criticises EH’s statements on palaeontology.

Concerning death of August Schleicher.