Answers CD’s questions relating to the flora of the Galapagos. [See 889.]

JDH’s grandfather’s death.

Collecting testimonials for the Edinburgh chair.

The most experienced botanists argue for the "validity of species in nature". Against taxonomic "splitters".

CD’s Cape Tres Montes plants.

Thanks for Journal of researches.

Puzzled over pea flower from Cape Tres Montes.

Thinks species a fair and most profitable subject for discussion, but has no formed opinion of his own.

Answers CD’s queries arising from Flora Antarctica.

Would like CD to come to town and go over Galapagos plants with him.

Goes on the assumption that each species has one origin, is immutable, and migrates.

Disagrees with Gaudichaud[-Beaupré] that volcanic island species are polymorphous.

Some mundane genera vary, others do not (Senecio vs Gnaphalium).

John Lindley’s doctrine of longevity of trees is amazing.

Edward Forbes’s health is better.

Thanks for Edward Forbes’s letter. Botanical evidence conflicts with parts of his theory but supports others. Is becoming more of a migrationist.

Bentham agrees with JDH on polymorphism.

JDH recognises the existence of "altered states" of continental species in island floras. The botanists’ difficulty in determining a new species is no grounds for dismissing the important question of altered forms.

Will look for Ascension plants for Ehrenberg.

French Galapagos collections confirm JDH’s view that plants arrived from north.

Cannot agree with Forbes on North Atlantic flora.

Botanical definition of "highness" and "lowness" usually means complexity and simplicity.

Some plants, such as aquatic ones, are cleistogamous. Cannot see why they should not be.

Sends specimens of grasses from Ascension Island for CD to forward to Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.

Includes list of indigenous flowering plants of Ascension Island.

Hugh Falconer gives no specific objections to Forbes’s views.

Botanical contrast between Cape of Good Hope and the rest of Africa is as strong as that between Australia and India.

Wishes CD would leave off snuff.

Has done Edmondston’s Galapagos plants.

Dispute between Edward Forbes and H. C. Watson.

Cannot come to Down to meet B. J. Sulivan as W. H. Harvey is calling.

Plant distribution and soil nature.

Forbes’s modification of Watson’s types of vegetation.

JDH will write comparison of representative plant species of the N. and S. Hemispheres.

Thanks for reading paper. Accepts CD’s criticisms; discussion of some points.

Will come to 7 Park St. on Wednesday for a palaver on distribution, species mutability, migration, etc.

Notes on part of CD’s species sketch.

[Extract of letter to WJH from T. E. Cantor] on zoological distribution in the Malay Peninsula.

JDH’s aunt cannot find lodgings for CD.

Similarities between floras of Tierra del Fuego, Van Diemen’s Land, and New Zealand; does not feel migration sufficient explanation.

Though correspondence has never ebbed so low, CD is constantly in his thoughts.

Observations on cheetahs used as domesticated hunting animals.

Finds geographical barriers sometimes separate species, but also finds species that remain separate where there are no barriers to migration.

Colour "individuates" isolated animal species.

Plains and alpine animal distribution show altitude not strictly analogous to latitude.

Impact of timber cutting on climate has led to extinction of crocodiles.

Will discuss coal formation in letter to Edward Forbes.

CD often asked whether isolated mountains in southern latitudes had closely allied representatives of Arctic and north temperate plants; JDH has found a representative barberry.

Making for Darjeeling via Calcutta.

Brian Hodgson reading CD’s Journal of researches with delight.

Forwarding breeding pamphlets.

JDH recommends P. S. Pallas on degeneration.

CD’s facts on sex in barnacles startling.

Hugh Falconer’s health.

Hugh Falconer’s misbehaviour.

Waiting out rains at Brian Hodgson’s.

Will make botanical transverse section of Himalayas from plains to snow.

Arrangements to pass Sikkim Rajah’s territory.

No evidence of glacial or diluvial action in sub-Himalayan mountains. No evidence of detrital coal formation.

Hodgson’s replies to CD on introduced species and hybrids.