Summary

Asks LJ to lend him a copy of his paper ["Variation of species", Rep. BAAS 26 (1856): 101–5] and any notes or references he has. Although CD has a large accumulation of facts, it is impossible to see and consider too many.

His health is poor.

Summary

Asa Gray’s criticism of Buckle and his comments on large and small genera.

CD suspects glacial epoch immensely long. Rates of organic change too variable to make them a good measure of geological time.

Bees’ cells are a difficulty for theory.

Summary

CD will go over his pigeon MS and then dispose of all his birds. Has Burmese fowls’ skins if WBT is interested.

Summary

A set of questions CD prepared for his meeting with WHM to discuss the geometry of bees’ cells.

Summary

Asks WDF for facts about stripes in horses and ponies.

Health has been very bad.

Summary

Is much obliged and honoured by the Diploma of the Geographical Society of Vienna.

Summary

Bees’ cells; GRW thinks hexagonal shape is accidental. Encloses notes on cells of Icaria.

Summary

Thanks LJ for his MS [of "Variation of species", Rep. BAAS 26 (1856): 101–5].

Will read it at his hydropathic establishment [Moor Park], where he is going for a rest.

Summary

"Excessively" interested in theory of bees’ cell formation.

Fears few of his pigeons will be of any use to WBT.

Hopes WBT will describe foreign poultry breeds.

Summary

CD recounts an idyllic stroll and nap – "as pleasant a rural scene as ever I saw, and I did not care one penny how any of the beasts or birds had been formed".

Summary

Comments on letter from Georg Hartung to CL dealing with erratic boulders.

Discusses migration of plants and animals.

A letter from Thomas Thomson on heat endured by temperate plants.

Summary

Confidential revelation concerning W. F. Daniell.

Georg Hartung confirms CD’s supposition from flora of Azores that icebergs had been stranded there.

Summary

Returns MS [of "Variation of species"]; several facts were new to him, especially interested in wagtails.

Wishes he could swallow Florent Prévost on sparrows ["Du régime alimentaire des oiseaux", C. R. Hebd. Acad. Sci. 46 (1858): 136–8].

LJ’s facts seem to bear out CD’s conclusion that secondary sexual characters were most variable of all.

Explains how he intends to deal with variation, and general facts in natural history in the light of species theory. Can only afford one chapter on variation in nature. It seems more important to make out variation in domestic animals.

Asks for facts on birds’ nests for his chapter on instincts.

Summary

Has been at Moor Park since Tuesday. Is passing his time watching ants.

Summary

Has come to heavy grief about bees’ cells, unless Huber is wrong [François Huber, New observations on the natural history of bees, new ed. (1841)].

Discusses cart-horses and stripes on a Belgiman [Belgian?].

Summary

Relates domestic affairs.

Thinks his bees’ cell theory will hold good.

Summary

Discusses bees’ cells

and WED’s botanical interests.

Summary

Sends MS on large and small genera.

Observed slave-making ants at Moor Park.

Summary

Will be most curious to hear results of WDF’s experiment with a kite and turkey chicks "by themselves".

If WDF ever sees a striped dun horse, he should ascertain colour of dam and sire.

Summary

Inquires about the structure and formation of bees’ comb; is interested in seeing its form at the commencement of building.