Has seen lately a true ruminant with the two central metacarpals distinct. It was the foot of an Anoplotherium in a recent ruminant.
Invites the Owens to stay at Down, joining Falconer and a few others.
Mentions his Plutonic view of earth history.
Cites Lyell’s opinions on loess.
CD doubts contemporaneousness of extinct great animals with ice period.
Cites applicability of Forbes’s theory of glacier structure to structure of volcanic obsidian.
CD is falling astern in the geological race for knowledge.
Returns notes on mule yaks [see Natural selection, p. 438]
and sends queries on silkworms.
A bed is ready any time HF will come.
Arranges a time for visiting HF.
Has written down what he gathered from HF on Tibetan dogs. Would welcome a few more details at any time, as he knows of nothing parallel to it.
Is busy with shell work and cannot make it to Kew. Invites JDH to Down. Intends asking Edward Forbes and Hugh Falconer.
Can JDH come to Down on 6 December? If this is convenient, CD will ask Forbes, Falconer, and perhaps Waterhouse.
Thinks JDH’s explanation of polymorphism on volcanic islands is probably correct.
Proposes experimental test to see whether alpine form of a plant is inherited like a true variety.
Agrees with JDH about Forbes’s views.
Discusses A. Saint-Hilaire’s lectures and asks on what grounds botanists judge the relative "highness" of plants.
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