His idle life and the pleasures of Barmouth: "my reading [in mathematics] is a failure"; "Beettle hunting … is my proper sphere".
He is "mad about Geology" and plans to ride through Wales in August with a few days at Barmouth.
Some humorous gossip.
Treasures recollections of old friends but seldom sees any. Has turned "a complete scribbler".
His scientific activities.
No wife in sight so far.
Announces his engagement.
Glad CW wondered at Glen Roy. "I saw nothing in my peregrinations to the Antipodes nearly so curious in physical geography."
Has asked his publisher to send a copy of Origin. Fears it will be "an abomination" in RO’s eyes. Urges him to read it straight through, as it is a condensed abstract and will otherwise be unintelligible.
Has told Murray to send AS a copy of Origin. CD’s conclusion is diametrically opposed to that which AS has often advocated, but he assures AS he does not send his book out of a spirit of bravado.
Reports on the snakes he collected in the Galapagos.
Glad to hear of MTM’s papers [? "On a peloria and semidouble flower of Ophrys aranifera, Huds.", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 8 (1865): 207–11 and "Observations on the morphology and anatomy of the genus Restio, Linn.", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 8 (1865): 211–55].
CD doubts the value, for origin of species, of parallels between peloria in "distinct groups".
Gärtner proved the stigma can select its own pollen from a mixture of foreign pollens. But much evidence shows varieties of same species are prepotent over a plant’s own pollen.
MTM’s father [William] believes that variation goes on for a long time once it has commenced.
Recalls the long walks in Cambridge with the "expectant senior wrangler". Cannot accept invitation (related to meetings of the BAAS) because of continuing bad health, his own and that of his children.
Sends his photograph.
Asks for any information of well-marked sexual differences in snakes, batrachians, or lizards. The rattlesnakes at the Zoological Garden differ considerably in colour.
Asks AG for details of variation in patterning of the banded snake.
Sends some questions on secondary sexual differences of fishes [missing], which he hopes AG will look over.
Invites AG to come to Down.
Encloses queries on sexual differences and nest-building habits of fish.
Thanks for answer to questions.
Has analogous questions on reptiles that he will send to AG. The subject interests him, but CD must try not to fall into his common error of "being too speculative".
Sends a list of queries for AG.
Asks whether AG can supply specimens for illustrations [for Descent]. Hopes Mr Ford will do the drawings.
Is "astonished & deeply grieved" at loss [of AG’s wife].
Thanks AG for full answers to queries.
Delighted Mr Ford will undertake drawings [for Descent]; comments on some illustrations he would like.
Delighted with proofs of illustrations [for Descent]. Hopes AG is pleased with them, as they illustrate facts given on his authority.
Invites AG to Down for a weekend with A. Newton, R. Swinhoe, and Hooker.
Expresses his "unbounded admiration" for Mr Ford’s woodcuts [for Descent]. Thanks AG for his kindness.
Asks AG to identify the species of Triton Mr Ford has drawn.
AG’s help has turned CD’s chapter on fishes and reptiles from "much the worst" into "one of the best" [in Descent].