Describes experiments on rotation of tendrils and shoots.

Asks M. J. Berkeley to identify the microscopical spherical bodies CD found in drops of yellowish rain-water that fell on his garden in a brief shower.

Too busy to examine specimen. Will ask W. H. Flower to do it. Long catalogue of what keeps him busy and concerned.

C. Carter Blake, "a jackal of Owen’s", is the reviewer in Edinburgh Review and Anthropological Review [see 4223]. Has sent back his diploma of Hon. Fellowship to Anthropological Society.

CD’s great interest in JS’s work on fertility of Primula crosses.

Thanks for Passiflora trials.

"By no means modify even in slightest degree any result."

CD wishes he had counted rather than weighed Primula seeds.

Will be obliged if Flower examines specimens. States questions he wants answered.

Includes comments about George Bentham’s anniversary address to the Linnean Society with particular notice of the favourable attention to Darwin, except for Natural Selection, and to AG’s essay in the Atlantic Monthly.

He defends [W. B.] Carpenter and [Jeffries] Wyman against [Richard] Owen.

Gossip about scientific honours and other matters.

Has extracted CD’s Linum paper [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 36 (1863): 279–84].

Elaborate co-adaptations of orchids and insects demonstrate against "chance blows", whether few, as Oswald Heer would have, or many and slight as CD proposes.

Sends seeds of female Lychnis diurna; has found none in hermaphrodites.

On variation, hybridity, and inheritance of parasites in this plant.

Discusses leaf form and phyllotaxy; clarifies a part of his paper ["On a protomorphic phyllotype", Atlantis (1863)].

CD is particularly struck by WFK’s observations on Corsican and N. American subspecies in his paper ["On the geographical distribution of European Rhopalocera", Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 3d ser. 1 (1862–3): [!?bib has 1862–4] 481–92]. Thinks it would be interesting for WFK to examine specimens from the Shetland Islands, for even faint trace of differentiation.

WBT progressing with breeding experiments for CD.

CD making quicker progress with Variation.

Discusses rudimentary sixth toe of frogs.

On CD’s request to observe bee Ophrys: PHG’s son collected 16 plants – of the 32 flowers, two had lost both pollinia, two had lost one each. He himself found two plants with pollinia adhering to the stigma.

Requests tendril-bearing plants.

He and L. C. Treviranus have repeated many of CD’s orchid observations with the same results. Sends his paper ["Fruchtbildung der Orchideen", Bot. Ztg. 21 (1863): 329–33, 337–45].

Thanks CD for two letters and his portrait.

CD’s book [Orchids] opened up terra incognita for him.

His work on S. African butterflies continues.

Reports on a moth that punctures peach skins.

Interesting that thoughtful naturalists are forced to admit mutability of species.

Some notes on Oxalis.

Acknowledges receipt of JvH’s letters and report of his expedition. Congratulates him on its success.

Has sent Origin.

There is hardly a place in the world as interesting as New Zealand with respect to geographical distribution.

Will quote the case of the ducks that nest in trees.

Is working hard on Variation.

Sends F. Hildebrand’s paper for publication by the Linnean Society or in Natural History Review.

Discusses geology of Brazil.

Asks for Brazilian stamps for his son.

Hildebrand’s paper is unsuitable for the Natural History Review.