Summary

Refers to CD’s letter of "May last". ARW’s views on order of succession of species are in accordance with CD’s.

Disappointed that his paper ["On the law which has regulated the introduction of new species", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2d ser. 16 (1855): 184–96] elicited no discussion; now ARW is trying to prove it. Paper merely states the theory.

On black jaguars breeding inter se: ARW has never heard of a parti-coloured one.

Summary

Has found no reference to construction of bees’ cells in works referred to by CD. Describes cell of Osmia atricapilla. Hive-bees’ cell was described at Entomological Society.

Summary

Reports progress of work on the new rooms [at Down].

Summary

Sends a reference to Subularia which bears on a query CD made some time ago [see 2002]. Subularia was seen to flower in the air in a remarkably dry season.

Summary

Discusses the relative growth of native and foreign weeds.

Summary

Memorandum about £250 investment in Patent Siliceous Stone Company, owned by David Thomas Ansted and Frederick Ransome.

Summary

HCW is trying to define what CD means by "variable" genera.

Summary

Writes of the extension to Down House.

Summary

Finds he cannot annotate CD’s list of subspecies and varieties as wanted. Mentions again his difficulties with "species"; he "cannot find the proof of species being definite and immutable whatever they may seem to be at any one time and spot".

Summary

Will be grateful for facts from Mr Linton on numbers of eggs from goldfinch–canary crosses.

Summary

Is trying to find a tutor for WED.

Summary

Responds to CD’s article on kidney beans [Collected papers 1: 275–7]. Sends beans as evidence of crossing.

Summary

Discusses WED’s future education, the work on the extension, and other domestic affairs.

Summary

Fish will take both sorts of seeds sent by CD, but will not take oats.

Summary

Delighted that JSH is coming to Down. Sends correct train time.

Summary

JSH’s Myosotis is beginning to sport. Asks whether some features are not odd.

Summary

CD is informed that a certain work [unspecified] is not available separately.

Summary

Will shortly return CD’s list of varieties of British plants. Discusses the situations in which different varieties of species are often found and the ranges of varieties relative to those of the species.

Summary

Thanks GB for his answers [to 2184], which were as explicit as he expected. Cucubalus viscosus and italicus are extremely sterile together; all other forms extremely fertile. Other instances of infertility found by Gärtner.

Summary

Discusses family health and affairs.