Summary

Thanks CdeC for his Mémoire sur la famille de Piperacées [1866]. Regrets he has not sufficient knowledge of botany to understand all the points discussed.

Sorry his health prevented his attending [Botanical] Congress and meeting CdeC’s father.

Summary

Has not seen K. E. von Baer’s paper ["Über Papuas und Alfuren", Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg (Sci. Nat.) 8 (1859): 269–346], but has read extract.

Knew of case of hairy and toothless family through John Crawfurd, Journal of an embassy from the Governor-General of India [2d ed. (1834)].

Working on causes of variability.

Summary

Encloses feathers from a diseased hen which has assumed cock plumage.

Forwards proofs of the engravings for Variation.

Summary

Has read abstract of JL’s paper ["On the present state of archaeological science", Athenæum 21 July 1866, pp. 79–82] and praises it.

Summary

Gives some observations on orchids and on some plants which seem to be dichogamous.

Summary

Answers JDH’s questions on connection of SE. England and continent,

on the effect of breaking the Isthmus of Panama,

and on Madeira flora as remnant of Tertiary flora.

Cautionary remarks for JDH on his "Insular floras" speech, designed to strengthen case of "occasional migration" theory.

Summary

Sends packet of Ononis columnae seed and references to the species.

Summary

Comments on pigeon and poultry woodcuts.

Observations and queries on poultry.

Summary

Thanks for AG’s trouble about new edition of Origin.

Will be printing his new book [Variation] at the end of the year.

[Forwarded by AG, with covering note, to Mr Fields of Ticknor & Fields.]

Summary

Alexander Beatson mentions a bird in considerable numbers on St Helena which appears to contradict CD’s statement in Journal of researches that only introduced land birds exist there.

The Azores flora and fauna tell heavily against Atlantis joining them with America and against transoceanic migration from America.

Summary

Returns Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63].

Summary

Alterations to the woodcuts of poultry for Variation.

Summary

CD defends his view of land birds on St Helena.

Explains why he would not expect American plants on the Azores.

It makes him miserable that he and JDH look at everything so differently.

Summary

Will do justice to CD’s objections to continental extension theory.

CD misunderstood his question about Isthmus.

Responds to CD’s other points about Madeira and the Azores.

Summary

Is attempting to sum up the two theories impartially and must raise all the difficulties with each. More on his differences with CD.

Summary

Appleton’s will not print a new edition of Origin.

AG has read sheets of new English edition [4th] and is much pleased by the passage on Richard Owen in the historical sketch.

Summary

Admits that occasional transport is not a well-established hypothesis but believes it more probable than continental extension as an explanation for the stocking of islands.

Summary

Notes on examining Rhamnus Frangula

Summary

More on continental extension vs transport [or migration] hypothesis. New questions raised. On Madeira, why were insects and plants changed so much, birds hardly at all?

Erratic boulders of the Azores.

Summary

Thanks WBT for help with woodcuts [for Variation].

Has returned WBT’s curious feathers.