Summary

Encloses a memorandum [missing] drawn up by W. H. Flower, Huxley, and himself, defending Charles Wyville Thomson against an attack made upon him.

Summary

Corrects CD’s statement [Origin, 3d ed.] that Madeira does not possess one peculiar bird. There is one, out of the 99.

Summary

Informs CD that Sylvicola aureola may be a distinct species but is a close ally of S. aestiva of N. and S. America and perhaps only a "climatic variety".

Summary

Lists land birds of Galapagos and discusses their distribution on mainland of S. America.

Summary

Sending two sheets [of Descent]. About one-and-a-half more will complete PLS’s task.

Summary

CD has signed the enclosed with great pleasure.

Summary

Bird specimens collected by Capt. P. P. King eventually went to British Museum, but many specimens were incorrectly marked.

Summary

Is sending by this post three sheets and will send another tomorrow thus almost completing the part on birds. His congratulations and thanks for PLS’s labours with them.

Summary

Will send F. Du Cane Godman’s book [Natural history of the Azores (1870)] as soon as he returns home.

Summary

Encloses paper [by W. Van Dyck] for publication by the Zoological Society ["On Syrian street dogs", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1882): 367–70].

Summary

Thanks PLS for information about variation in birds. Asks for more information.

Summary

Encloses a portion of a letter from B. D. Walsh [5319] concerning an American interested in exchanging birds’ skins.

Summary

Asks PLS to sign the memorial for a pension for Wallace.

Summary

Asks PLS whether he will look over list of names of birds [for Descent] to make sure they are spelled correctly. "I have a most unfortunate weakness … to copy proper names incorrectly".

Summary

Is infinitely obliged for a correction. "You men who do only or chiefly original work have an immense advantage over compilers like myself, as you can know what to trust." Wishes he had consulted PLS before using A. E. Brehm’s Thierleben woodcuts [for Descent]. PLS’s assistance has saved him from "endless blunders"; he now feels safe.

Summary

Asks for a rabbit specimen;

inquires about a hybrid hare–rabbit.

Summary

Promises to send copy of Origin [3d ed.].

Is pleased that PLS has "become ""heretical"" on species".

Summary

Asks for information about japanned peacocks from Hudson [John Henry?] Gurney’s flock.

Summary

Asks for index to Zoological Society’s Proceedings.

Mentions article on "Barbets" by PLS in Intellectual Observer [12 (1867–8): 241–6].

Summary

Thanks PLS for his generous offer to go over the part on birds [in Descent]. Does not think PLS realises that there are more than 200 pages – most of which will have nothing new for him.

W. H. Hudson’s proofs have arrived ["Letters on the ornithology of Buenos Ayres", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1870): 87–9, 158–60, 332–4, 545–50, 671–3, 748–50, 798–82; (1871): 4–7, 258–62, 326–9].