Summary

On why it is said Indian elephants do not breed in captivity; mating habits of male so violent as to require restraint.

Summary

Hybrid geese.

Proportions of sexes in sheep and cattle.

Pairing habits of crows.

Summary

Problems with Mr Robinson, who has suddenly departed for Ireland for a month. The parish urgently needs some respectable man to hold the living permanently.

Summary

Enthusiastic about JDH’s plan for a British Flora – "a grand idea to make a Flora a guide for knowledge already acquired & to be acquired". Gives examples of subjects.

No work exists on various biological points in plants.

Summary

Sends abstract of his views on change of climate and a copy of a paper.

Summary

Glacial climates.

Summary

Requests autograph.

Summary

Acknowledges receipt of book and manuscript.

Summary

Full background on the difficulties of the vicarage of Down.

Summary

Sends his autograph.

Summary

Describes a supposed cross between a cow and a red deer or doe.

Summary

Thanks for the pamphlets; JL’s paper, "Primitive condition of man" [Nat. Hist. Rev. n.s. 6 (1868): 328].

Summary

Sends news of his and Frank’s doings at Cambridge.

Summary

Asks GHD to look in William Thomson’s book [W. Thomson and P. G. Tait, Treatise on natural philosophy, vol. 1 (1867)] to see how many million years ago Thomson says earth’s crust solidified. CD is troubled by "brevity of the world", because pre-Silurian creatures must have lived during endless ages "else my views wd be wrong, which is impossible – Q.E.D.".

Summary

Does not think the supposed cow–deer hybrid worth investigating.

John Robinson [the curate at Down] reported to be walking with girls at night.

Summary

Sends letter [from Haeckel?] opened by mistake.

August Schleicher a great loss.

Summary

On spurs in peacocks. [See Descent 1: 290 n.]

Summary

Thanks WDF for information about sheep and cattle.

Mentions corrections for new edition of Origin [5th ed. (1869)].

Summary

Will try to get more information about the supposed hybrid [of cow and deer].

The rumours about John Robinson [curate of Down] cause JBI concern. He will seek to get the facts – will try to protect Robinson against malicious rumours, but if he is immoral he must go forthwith.

Summary

Hopes Miss [Sarah Elizabeth] Wedgwood will sell part of her land for a parsonage at Down. Recounts his futile efforts to obtain land in the past.

Encloses news item about the supposed hybrid [of cow and deer].