Summary

Last night had tremendous thunderstorm. Will ask Goebel about proshelismus. Describes experiments on beans. Please send Bessy’s address. Has got to know nice Englishman named Purdy and his wife. Bathes nearly every night with the Finlander.

Summary

Found worm-casts atop a 2555–foot hill.

Summary

Regrets CD’s poor health.

"Do not return Primula MS."

Summary

Proposes to examine CD at Down.

Summary

Has been working with G. R. Crotch on stridulation. The sexual theory seems very shaky.

Is sending preparations of beetles.

Summary

Will observe old furrowed fields for CD in the early spring. Suggests locations in Scotland and Rugby with ridge and furrowing in old pastures.

Summary

Information [for CD] on old, sloping, ridged fields.

Summary

Encloses letters from two owners [W. Corbett and C. Randell] of large farms concerning fields with ridges and furrows in the direction of the slope. All local men agree the ridges do not change shape.

Summary

Describes voyage to New Zealand.

Summary

The occurrence and prevention of scale in boilers.

Anxious to hear Murray’s reply [to CD’s letter 9598].

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

Concerned about ED’s headaches, CD writes an affectionate letter.

Believes he has found a rare slave-making species of ant.

Is reading novels: Beneath the surface and Three chances.

Summary

WED thinks Bournemouth a suitable holiday destination for ED and CD.

Summary

His [first] railway journey was disappointing.

Summary

Sets out estimate for cutting blocks for illustrations of a trap.

Summary

Sorry to hear of CD’s poor health.

Summary

Returns a borrowed extract from the [Zoological?] Record.

Summary

Asks whether he ought to write to CD while he is ill.

Wonders if he might use Haast’s notes on introduced animals for a notice he is preparing ["Note on the replacement of species in the colonies and elsewhere", Nat. Hist. Rev. n.s. 4 (1864): 123–7].

Summary

In his first letter after their engagement, CD reports on the happy reception of the news by his family. He hopes she will not find life with him solitary and dull after the lively social life of Maer.

Summary

Sends Effie’s [K. E. Wedgwood] letter;

recounts other family news.

Is interested in CD’s thoughts on podophyllin.