Tabulation of varieties goes on; very important as it shows the branching of forms. Mentions his principle of divergence.

Some negative results in variety tabulation survey.

Galls on wild carrot.

Writes of the extension to Down House.

Representative species may complicate tabulation of varieties.

Questions for Mr Anderson about horse colouring in Norway.

Has been writing an "audacious little discussion" to show that "organic beings are not perfect, only perfect enough to struggle with their competitors".

Thanks JSH for his magnificent present. Hopes Hooker will bring the specimens.

Have water-fowl ever been seen at Ipswich on Mr Ransome’s great tank?

Gives CD further details of the fertility of the offspring from cross of a yak and Indian cow, the so-called chooboos, whose fertility he has traced to the seventh generation [see Natural selection, pp. 437–8].

Refers to CD’s letter of "May last". ARW’s views on order of succession of species are in accordance with CD’s.

Disappointed that his paper ["On the law which has regulated the introduction of new species", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2d ser. 16 (1855): 184–96] elicited no discussion; now ARW is trying to prove it. Paper merely states the theory.

On black jaguars breeding inter se: ARW has never heard of a parti-coloured one.

Suggests CD use the common origin of the French "chef" and the English "head" or "évêque" and "bishop" to illustrate the parallels between extinction and transitional forms in language and palaeontology [see Natural selection, p. 384].

C. F. Ledebour [Flora rossica (1842–53)] particularly useful for variety tabulation. Results generally favourable.

Additions to Down House.

Last two chapters of MS took six months to write.

On classification and possibilities of a scientific morphology and zoology. CD’s "pedigree business" is important for physiology but has nothing to do with pure zoology any more than human pedigree has to do with the census. Zoological classification is a census of the animal world.

JSH’s Myosotis is beginning to sport. Asks whether some features are not odd.

Sends details on Myosotis sports. Feels sure he could make any flower in some degree monstrous in four or five generations.

Returns some of the systematics books borrowed from JDH. Will now take on A. P. and Alphonse de Candolle [Prodromus].

Arrangements for a visit.

Discusses the difficulties of breeding mules by crossing canaries and finches.

Return of books.

JDH coming to Down.

Describes his work, which demonstrates that hybrids of Cactus are fertile.

Writes concerning library books requested by CD.

Reports progress of work on the new rooms [at Down].

Discusses WED’s future education, the work on the extension, and other domestic affairs.

Is trying to find a tutor for WED.