JDH writes to his wife Frances Hooker nee Henslow about his recent travels in Morocco. He describes the celebrations of the last day of Passover, which he spent with a Jewish family in Tetuan. He describes the journey by mule across flat plains from Tetuan to Ceuta & notes that the vegetation included Tamarix Africana, mulberry & Juniperus phoenicea. He describes the view approaching Ceuta, the agriculture around the Spanish town, the people he observed including Riffians, & the character of the fortified town. They stayed at the Fonda Italiana then went by Felucca to Algericas where they botanised in the hills & observed the differences in vegetation with the opposite coast. The Algericas vegetation included cork oak trees festooned with the fern Davalia canariensis, undergrowth of bracken, brambles, Genista, Ulex, Cistus & heaths as in Morocco. Algerica plants not found in Morocco were Rhododendron ponticum, Erica ciliaris & Sibthorpia europeana [europaea], several grasses & a Helianthemum. The flora was more advanced than in the Marrakech area, the habitat being drier, & the scenery prettier. They travelled on to Gibraltar, where presently stuck waiting for a boat to Tangiers, all their luggage having gone ahead to Tangier. Whilst waiting visited the Governor of Gibraltar, Sir William Williams of Kars, who had been informed of their travels by the Secretary of War, Mr Cardwell. The Governor's house is a new building on the site of an old convent with some fine trees: Norfolk Island Pine, Date Palm & Dracaena draco or 'Dragon's blood tree'. In the hills the vegetation included: Cerastium gibraltaricum, Linaria tristis, Phytolacca trees. They stayed at Fonda Españole near to the offices of the hospitable Mr Cowell. Under date Apr 18 he continues; they arrived late at Tangier & had to pay to have the gates opened. They met with [George] Maw who had travelled South & found the beautiful Iris Sir John Hay Drummond Hay made them aware of.

Lists remaining Coleoptera and prices. Writes that his collections have almost all averaged a species to 2 or 2 and a half specimens.

Raises two points on CD’s view, in Descent [2: 229], on how aquatic birds acquire white plumage.

Also remarks on effect of will in certain human modifications,

on colour-blindness in his children,

and on ability to move his ears.

Thanks BvC for the present of his book, Sittlichkeit und Darwinismus.

Comments on Descent.

Reports a case of protective coloration of bugs on Tilia

and observations on frogs fighting [see Descent, 2d ed., pp. 281, 350].

Encloses drawings of chicken feet.

Has had Hinrich Nitsche’s pointed ear photographed. Nitsche also has photographed the ear of a foetal orang. [See Descent 1: 21–3.]

Gratified that CD approves his analysis of CD’s views of moral sense. Does not think there is a fundamental difference between J. S. Mill (Utilitarianism [1863], p. 45) and CD.

His view of those who object to CD’s "new doctrine of the moral sense".

On Hottentots’ blushing.

Gives case of a baboon’s revenge. [See Descent, 2d ed. (1874), p. 69.]

Man’s spiritual life separates him from other animals.

Why are moths attracted, often fatally, to lights?

Thanks for copy of Descent.

Comments on notes by JC-B on relation between blushing and mental disturbance. Asks for further information about blushing. "The single pencil line down this MS is my mark that I have used it once."

Thanks for "dreadful photo of the imbeciles".

Sends CD photographs of his atavistic ears and ears of a foetal orang in the collection of the Zoological Museum, Leipzig.

Thanks for contribution to fund for his brother’s widow.

No summary available.

Thanks CD for thinking of his speculation.

Has made a note of the paper mentioned by CD.

Discusses WC's ideas on the causes of oceanic circulation. Notes that wind currents are easier to study than water currents. Glad WC got his specimens of Mediterranean water.

Movement of hair; action of occipito-frontalis muscle.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Obliged for letter about dog.

Comments on HH’s article ["Zur Geschlechtsbestimmung", Bot. Ztg. 29 (1871): 81–9, 97–109].

Has despatched a letter on a subject of concern to JH to the editor of the Saturday News, but now feels it is too feeble. Is mostly feeling too ill to write or think for long.