Discusses unusual primula flowers and asks for details of Rawson’s experiments with gladioli. Asks for loan of Cypripedium but admits he will probably mutilate it.

Is sending photographs of the niata skull [requested in 4082]. W. H. Flower reports that he could have a cast made for £3.3s.0d.

Cannot support another edition of Origin, so unable to send English pages. Suggests some of his other works that might be worth translating into German.

CD’s plans have changed. He will be in London the following week and therefore able to call on correspondent.

Asks for additional details of Confessions of a Metaphysician.

Has seen the Athenæum and admires his article on beauty ["Feeling of beauty among animals", Athenæum (24 Nov. 1866): 681].

Asks for specimen [of Eozoon] for J. V. Carus of Leipzig.

Thanks for his memoir ["On the appendicular skeleton of the Primates"].

Thanks for specimen of Drosophyllum.

Describes capacity of various plants to catch flies.

Cannot name fern specimen.

Laugher pigeon descended from Columba livia.

Discusses tailless dogs.

Believes astronomical phenomenon responsible for oscillation of level of earth’s crust.

Would WCT like copy of Orchids?

Expected plants [Drosophyllum] have arrived.

"When a man has laboured hard in science & has proved that he is capable of original research, he may [some]times indulge in speculation [&] the public will indulge him. But even in this case it is a common error to speculate too largely, for speculation is far easier than observation or experiments . . ."

Discusses need for cross-fertilisation in Geranium.

Hooker begins to doubt whether Drosophyllum so closely allied to Drosera.

Thanks TTTT for his study of European spiders [On European spiders Part 1 (1869–70)] which bases its classification system on the theory of evolution.

Responds to Mivart’s Genesis of species. "I complain of his incessently speaking as if I trusted exclusively to natural selection … Mivart speaks in many places as if I entirely ignored the direct action of external conditions". Answers some of Mivart’s particular criticisms. Suggests FD read the letter to Marlborough Robert Pryor, as Pryor will never be able to read it himself.

Suggests Mivart should have read account of Niata Cattle.

Sends his signature.

Thanks AA for a ‘splendid case of gradation of structure’.

Asks for some pamphlets, the titles of which have been sent to him by Dr Spengel [see 8053].

Asks to have copy of Origin [6th ed.] sent to the Pall Mall Gazette for review with Mivart’s Genesis [of species (1871)].

Sorry that his health prevents him attending a meeting to honour Adam Sedgwick.

Is obliged because of health to decline the invitation [see 8938] to make a voyage on the Admiral’s ship. "… I must rest contented with past memories …"