On reading Descent was reminded of having seen, on a visit to an idiot asylum with her father [J. S. Henslow], a woman with long pointed ears.

Requests that a box of specimen goose wings for CD be forwarded by the Institution to [W. H.] Flower at the Royal College of Surgeons. The wings bear on the transmission of the effects of injury.

Explains difficulties in supplying wings of geese. Describes injury of old gander that sired the abnormal geese.

F. C. Donders coming to congress. Wants to arrange visit.

Arranges to bring F. C. Donders to visit Down.

Thanks CD for Expression, comments on it.

Describes celebration of F. C. Donders’ 25th year as professor at Utrecht.

Discusses hereditary character of hypermetropia. Notes views of F. C. Donders on the subject.

Sends thanks for election to American Philosophical Society.

CD thinks JJW’s account [in 7137] is significant for a theory of generation and should go to some scientific society; suggests additional data is needed. Quotes cases of subsequent progeny apparently affected by a previous impregnation. Perhaps not prudent to allude to "despised" Pangenesis, which CD fully believes will have its day.

Declines offer of book on physics.

Thanks StGJM for prompt answer correcting inaccuracies in CD’s notes on StGJM’s opinions. Expects "universal disapprobation" when he publishes Descent.

In a fortnight will begin to arrange notes on expression. Asks for FCD’s conclusions about the contraction of eye muscles. Is interested in abstract of FCD’s experiments on "rate of travelling of the nervous powers".

Expresses sympathy [on death of FCD’s daughter].

Will be grateful for his paper and letter.

Comments on QdeB’s volume [Charles Darwin et ses précurseurs Français (1870)]. Mentions error concerning his views on Parus and nuthatch.

Discusses Canis magellanicus.

Discusses reception of his views in France and Germany.

Thanks FCD for information.

Hopes that translation of his paper will appear in Dublin Journal.

Notes experience of his son [Leonard Darwin] on engorgement of eyes with blood. Discusses secretion of tears when eye muscles are involuntarily contracted.

Orders seeds, ripened in Algiers; imported seed would be of no use. [Forwarded to Algiers by JDH, see 7272.]

Comments on translation of FCD’s paper ["On the action of the eyelids", Arch. Med. 5 (1870): 20–38].

Speculates that closing eyelids may protect eyes from vibrations.

Discusses publication of Expression.

Sends list of his publications.

Is grateful for interest QdeB has taken in his election [to Académie Française].

Has forwarded JPMW’s papers to the Linnean Society [four articles by J. P. M. Weale, J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 13 (1870–2): 42–58].

Comments on JPMW’s findings concerning flowers and their fertilisation.

Thanks DF for proofs of his paper on Aymara Indians.