To John Murray   9 January [1868]¹

My dear Sir

M^r. Dallas’ delay in making the Index is intolerable.² He ought not, in my opinion to have undertaken the work.— It is no use my writing to him. A week ago or more he said he sh^d the next day send the first half to the Printers.³ Will you be so kind as to enquire, & then settle at once what had better be done. I am prepared to throw the Index overboard & publish at once without one, though it would be a great loss to the Book.— I finished last Revises of last pages on Nov. 15^th—now nearly 2 months ago.— Will you be so kind as to write to M^r Dallas after enquiring at Printers?—

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

P.S. I have been reading portions of Brehms great work on the Life of Animals, & it is excellent; I never read so amusing & interesting an account of the habits of Baboons in any other work whatever.— The woodcuts also are admirable.— I advise you to reconsider the question of publication & Translation.⁴ It might come out in Parts—& if well advertised, I sh^d be astonished if it did not sell largely.