Summary

Though correspondence has never ebbed so low, CD is constantly in his thoughts.

Observations on cheetahs used as domesticated hunting animals.

Finds geographical barriers sometimes separate species, but also finds species that remain separate where there are no barriers to migration.

Colour "individuates" isolated animal species.

Plains and alpine animal distribution show altitude not strictly analogous to latitude.

Impact of timber cutting on climate has led to extinction of crocodiles.

Will discuss coal formation in letter to Edward Forbes.

CD often asked whether isolated mountains in southern latitudes had closely allied representatives of Arctic and north temperate plants; JDH has found a representative barberry.

Making for Darjeeling via Calcutta.

Summary

Henslow has sent him CD’s Galapagos plants along with Macrae’s. JDH impressed by the island endemism, which "overturns all our preconceived notions" on centres of radiation. Describes the extent, and the sharp demarcation at longitude 60° W, of the American and European Northern Hemisphere floras. CD’s plants among those he is using to do Antarctic flora. Drimys winteri shows a graded series of states down the length of the South American continent.

Summary

Thanks for new [6th] edition of Origin.

Is working on Echini.

The more material he gets the less easy it is to diagnose a genus or species. Has little doubt that "classification is nothing but the most arbitrary convenient tool, depending upon the material at our command at a special time".

Summary

The Bishop of Falkland [Waite Hockin Stirling] is coming to visit BJS, who will question him for CD.

Discusses politics; regrets they have been badly beaten by the Tory candidate.

Summary

Sends news of his movements since Beagle put in at Falmouth. His charts are safe and already being engraved.

Announces his engagement.

Summary

Suggests there is a direct relation between temperature and abundance of plant species.

Summary

Notes on part of CD’s species sketch.

Summary

Encloses a letter [missing] on the progress of the Fuegians.

His eldest son has married.

Summary

Is planning a revised edition of his Cruise in Tierra del Fuego [1857], and finds his opinions on the natives the reverse of CD’s.

Hopes he may call some time.

Summary

Mainly Shropshire news of family and friends.

Summary

Thinks he may be appointed Commodore commanding the Squadron on the west coast of S. America. Wishes to leave England for his health’s sake.

Summary

JDH’s grandfather’s death.

Collecting testimonials for the Edinburgh chair.

Summary

Urges CD to visit Flores Island near Montevideo if he has not already done so. Describes formation of greenstone and the granite formations on small islands in the Uruguay channel.

Sends specimens from Pôrto Alegre [Brazil] for identification by CD.

Summary

In reply to CD’s query [see 2072], JDD describes what little is known about the crustacea of the Antarctic and southern lands.

Knows of no species of the cold temperate south identical with those of the cold temperate north.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s experimental suggestions. Will count seeds of hybrid crosses.

Requests suggestions for Edinburgh Botanical Society expedition to British Columbia.

Summary

Thanks for use of CD’s collection.

Comments and queries on the botany of the Southern Hemisphere.

Looks forward to seeing CD’s Galapagos plants.

Summary

Instances of sexual differences in viviparous fishes, suggested by reading chapters on sexual selection [in Descent] and by Mivart’s Genesis of species.

Notes on echinoderms.

Summary

Comments on and corrections for chapter 13, "Mammals", of Descent.

Summary

Reports on a strange breed of sheep at Aden,

a Brazilian plant naturalised in Ceylon,

the Australian Casuarina equisetum spreading in Taiwan,

and an excrescence on wing of several thrushes of Taiwan similar to a growth on wing of a Syrian species.