Sends newspaper clipping about a nest of young birds, apparently hybrid offspring of a cock goldfinch and a hen green linnet.

Thanks AdeC for his long letter full of interesting facts, which will be of great use if a new edition [of Variation] is demanded.

As for when CD will publish on variation in a state of nature: he has had the MS almost ready for several years but Variation fatigued him so much

that "I determined to amuse myself by publishing a short essay on the Descent of Man".

AdeC will have plenty of time to publish his views. Asks permission to quote AdeC on a case of inheritance of scalp-muscles [see Descent 1: 20].

Hooker has expressed a view, similar to AdeC’s, "that morals & politics would be very interesting if discussed like any branch of Natural History".

Agrees with AdeC on acclimatisation

and on graft-hybrids.

CD is repeating Hildebrand’s method in producing graft-hybrid potatoes.

As for Pangenesis, very few people approve of it though it has some enthusiastic friends and CD has much faith in its vitality.

John Tyndall left London in a hurry, but he has urged the claims of JH's son [Alexander] as a professor at the School of Mines.

Much obliged for calling his attention to M. C. E. Du Four's paper, though he cannot reconcile the general reasoning. Comments on the effect of the Sirocco on the Föhn of the Alps.

Thanks JH for sending JH's work on Dante's Divine Comedy. Confesses not to be a Dante expert, but believes terza rima best for the poem in English.

Comments on WH's spectroscopic examination of cometary tails [see WH's 1868-7-2].

Apology for errors in binding [see SE's 1868-7-3]; new volume being bound.

Sending details of the atmosphere being affected by the new moon. Has not regularly received his astronomical notices owing to a fault in the address. News of scientific happenings in Australia.