The Zoological Garden has only one old adult male of Limulus. When there were females, eggs were never observed.

Encloses a separate letter [formerly 7071] about AD’s scheme [for a zoological station].

Suggests AD be cautious [in his work]. "Caution is almost the soul of science."

Agrees to have his name on the list of naturalists to whom annual report [on zoological station] should be sent.

His health has been very bad for last six weeks.

Thanks AD for his article in Das Ausland ["Englische Kritiker und Anti-Kritiker über den Darwinismus", 49 (1871): 1153–7].

Mivart’s book [Genesis of species], which misinterprets CD’s views, has produced a great effect in England.

He has answered the point about incipient structures being useless in new [6th] edition of Origin.

His Descent has had immense circulation, but has met with approval of hardly any naturalists. He supposes it was a mistake to publish it, but it will pave way for a better work.

Rejoices at success [of Naples Zoological Station]. Will send complete set of his books to the library.

If AD is interested, he will send a copy of Expression when it comes out.

Invites AD to visit Down.

Thanks AD for kind review of Expression. AD’s remarks on necessity of tracing development of functions are novel and valuable.

THH sends to AD a draft, prepared by himself and CD, of a statement for a subscription fund to assist AD’s Naples Zoological Station.

Thanks for birthday greetings.

Comments on work at Naples Zoological Station. F. M. Balfour to visit Naples. Would like to send third son [Francis Darwin] to learn art of observing marine animals.

Health indifferent.

CD is grieved to hear that AD is overworked and troubled about the Zoological Station. Glad he is now writing to seek assistance from English naturalists. Sends a subscription of £100 and £10 each from George and Francis Darwin.

Has written to J. Murray to have account of the Zoological Station inserted in the Murray guidebook.

The circular about the Station has been printed; some have already signed.

Received R. Kossman’s paper on Anelasma ["Untersuchungen über die durch Parasitismus hervorgerufenen Umbildungen in der Familie der Pedunculata", Verh. Phys.-med. Ges. Würz. N. F. 5 (1874): 129–57]. The case is the most interesting ever recorded of gradation, i.e., from an animal with a stomach to one with roots like a plant.

Delighted he will examine the complemental males of Scalpellum.

The Zoological Station has already resulted in "capital work" by F. M. Balfour and Ray Lankester. G. J. Romanes is coming next year.

CD will be interested in AD’s ancestry of vertebrates. "I shall be very sorry to give up the ascidians."

Thanks AD for his Ursprung [der Wirbelthiere (1875)], which astonished CD. AD’s views, if accepted by competent authorities, will show how much we have to learn about the history of every animal. Suggests caution on "degradation principle". Comments on other views in the work. Has long seen importance of the principle of "Functionswechsel" [transfer [change!?] of function], but never enunciated it as a distinct principle.

Thanks AD for the handsome Annual Report of the Zoological Station (1878). Rejoices at its success and its great service to science.