Expresses his strong opinion that Huxley’s paper ["Agamic reproduction and morphology of Aphis", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 22 (1858): 193–220, 221–36] should be published.
Sends two letters from G. Lincecum about ants ("perhaps the most marvellous instinct ever recorded") for possible publication. [See Gideon Lincecum, "The habits of the ""agricultural ants"" of Texas", J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.) 6 (1862): 29–31.]
E. A. Parkes informs him there will be difficulty about the Army returns [on CD’s Query to Army surgeons, see Freeman, Works of Charles Darwin, p. 111] owing to official obstructions by Director General. [Enclosed letter from Parkes to GB says that the Director General does not think that Army surgeons could be asked to collect information systematically for CD, but perhaps some informal, voluntary arrangement could be made.]
Discusses and suggests treatments for CD’s stomach complaint. Recommends he consult William Brinton.
Has received CD’s Copley Medal for him. Conveys regrets of Royal Society at his absence.
Thanks GB for proposing him for Copley Medal; suspects he is responsible for the praise in Sabine’s "splendid eulogy" on his work. Has, however, written to Sabine to say he would have liked a little more said about the Origin.
On a proposed meeting of friends of the deceased Hugh Falconer to decide on a memorial to him. Invites CD’s support.
Has heard from Hooker that CD is very ill and asking for suggestion of a doctor to consult. Recommends A. B. Garrod as specialist in gouty complaints.
The Polyzoa CD saw emerging from cells of a particular growth appear to be parasites. The main growth is a species of Sertularia; the minute parasites take possession of vacated cells.
Clarification of the supra-condyloid foramen in humans and animals.
Discusses his blunder in "confounding the two foramina" [in the skull] of apes [in Descent].
Discusses views of George Rolleston, St George Mivart, and Huxley on the occurrence of the foramina.
The presence of the inter-condyloid perforation in man no more indicates his simian relations than it does his relations to numerous other animals.
Is preparing a new edition of Origin [6th ed. (1872)] and asks GB for information on the gradations between the vibracula and avicularia of the Polyzoa and on what he bases his opinion concerning the homology of the avicularium with the zooid.
Replies to CD’s queries about the homologies of the avicularian and vibracular organs of Polyzoa and gives examples of gradations between the two.
CD plans to use notes provided by GB. [See Origin, 6th ed., p. 193.]
Returns CD’s MS [for Origin 6th ed.] on the defensive organs of the Polyzoa, with his comments.
Thanks for information on platycnemic tibiae found in America. Believes the condition is of two kinds as exemplified by Gibraltar and Cro-Magnon tibiae on one side and the Welsh form on the other. Would like to know which of the two forms the American bones are; their proportions suggest they are very like the Welsh tibiae.
