Orders nitrate of ammonia for experiment on plants.

Are measuring glasses accurate?

Thanks for ducks’ skins, for which he encloses postal order.

Thanks AGB for "various notes".

Would like to hear his views about the Brahmaea.

Refers H. H. Howorth, the writer of "A new view of Darwinism" [Nature 4 (1871): 161–2], to Variation for a discussion of fertility and sterility of organisms in relation to increased food and other factors.

Would be delighted to see CVR at Down, but is in precarious health and cannot talk to anyone for more than an hour.

Wrote to CVR a few weeks ago to thank him for his book [see 7794].

Will expect CVR on Thursday unless he hears otherwise.

Regrets ill health will prevent his attending the BAAS meeting at Edinburgh.

Has never before noticed with care the markings on finger-ends. Compares them to the complex whirl-pool patterns of human foetal lanugo.

Thanks for gift of WBT’s book [Pheasants for coverts and aviaries (1873)].

Lady Lyell’s anxiety over Lyell’s health.

Preparing new edition of Origin.

Asks whether anything was observed [in Morocco] on expressions.

Did JDH notice whether pollen-masses in Ophrys apifera in N. Africa fall on the stigma, as in England?

Thanks author of an anonymous Swedish review of CD’s works [in Samtiden, Vecksckrift för politik och litteratur, ed. C. F. Bergstedt, nos. 23–5 (1871): 358–64, 374–81, 390–7]. CD is surprised to learn the Origin has appeared in Swedish [1869].

Thanks for letter of introduction for his sons visiting America.

No summary available.

Does not think WRG’s theory [about ridges of skin on palm and finger-ends?] will hold.

Does not believe the beard in monkeys and goats could be protective like the lion’s mane.

Thanks him for fact about setters.

Is perplexed about the reported milk secretion in pubescent boys.

Requests advice about Chauncey Wright’s article on Mivart’s Genesis of species [North Am. Rev. 113 (1871): 64–103]. CD thinks of publishing it as a pamphlet to counter impact of Mivart’s criticism of natural selection.

No summary available.

Thanks his aunt for a note about a picture bought by CD’s sons.

Thanks JJM for willingness to introduce corrections into French edition of Origin.

CD is allowing his family to decide whether Chauncey Wright’s paper on Mivart is dull.

Health and despondency.

Doubts his ability to answer Mivart successfully [in 6th ed. of Origin].

Thanks JM for Quarterly Review. Its "cutting" article [on Descent, 131 (1871): 47–90] is worthy of Mivart’s skill.

Comments on CW’s article on phyllotaxy;

discusses criticisms of Origin by Mivart.