Sends CD a paper ["Ant-agency in plant structure", published in Spruce Notes of a botanist on the Amazon and Andes, ed. A. R. Wallace (1908)] on plant structures he believes are the work of insects; asks him to forward it to the Linnean Society [read 15 Apr 1869].

Writes of his support for the Origin, before which he had been much concerned by the delimitation of so-called species.

Describes the work he is writing, Cosmology (Ramsay 1870).

Regrets Frank [Darwin] did not pass the Trinity scholarship examination, but he hears Frank did well on the viva voce part.

Pleased CD is willing to help the University’s Museum of Zoology; he encloses the printed appeal.

Insectivorous plants; Drosophyllum lusitanicum.

Descriptions of the local sheep.

ARW’s review of 10th ed. of Lyell’s Principles [see 6684] is admirable.

But he differs "grievously" with ARW on man. CD sees no necessity for an additional and proximate cause.

Describes the floral structure and fertilisation of some melastomes;

discusses the direct agency of insects in modifying the structure of flowers.

Will attempt to provide CD with the information requested as soon as he can.

Gives references to some recent papers and articles which might interest CD.

Is currently reviewing Wallace’s new book [Malay Archipelago].

Numerical proportion of males to females in greyhound puppies.

He has found abundant Drosophyllum in Andalusia.

Expands upon their differences in regard to man and the question of the existence of forces not yet recognised by science.

Reports on the sales of Variation; discusses the difficulties of inserting additions and corrections.

GR regarded as a dreamer in Bavaria. Laments local social and political conditions.

Describes his ideas of mechanics in nature.

Discusses CD’s health and James Paget’s "verdict".

Sends paper on mechanisms of cross-fertilisation in flowers ["Note on Parnassia palustris", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 11 (1871): 24–31].

Studying how fertilisation takes place without the aid of insects in winter varieties.

The peacocks mentioned in his last letter as yet show no differences in development of spurs. [See Descent 1: 290 n.]

Has experimented with some success in growing twigs with buds

and a grass plant from which a ptarmigan had extracted the core.

Has found no difference between male and female rhesus monkeys at the Zoological Gardens in amount of facial hairiness. Observations on other monkeys.

Horns of sheep [see Descent 1: 289 n. 26].

Has sold 400 copies of Facts and arguments for Darwin. It is a poor time for bookselling.

Last Quarterly Review has best exposition of Darwinism he has met with [A. R. Wallace, "Geological climates, and origin of species", Q. Rev. 126 (1869): 359–94].

Proposes to print 2000 copies of a new [5th] edition of Origin.

Sends message to CD about development of horns in sheep.