Summary

Is glad WED has made a good beginning [at Rugby?].

Summary

Thanks for his letter; hopes he is managing all right [at Rugby?].

Summary

Writes of the extension to Down House.

Summary

Discusses WED’s affairs and events at Down.

Writes of the benefits of reading.

Summary

The new pigeon house is nearly complete.

CD is busy trying all sorts of experiments on salting seeds.

Summary

Is sorry to hear that WED has been ill.

Discusses pigeons and his pigeon work.

Summary

Writes of WED’s progress at school and events at home.

Discusses pigeons, with which he is "getting on splendidly".

Summary

Is glad WED is in the sixth [form]. Discusses WED’s intention to become a barrister.

Summary

Reports progress of work on the new rooms [at Down].

Summary

Discusses WED’s future education, the work on the extension, and other domestic affairs.

Summary

Writes of domestic matters

and asks WED to observe cart-horses for traces of dark stripes on spine and cross-stripes on shoulder.

Summary

CD intends to enter WED at Christ’s College.

Thanks him for inquiries made about horses.

Summary

Has been at Moor Park since Tuesday. Is passing his time watching ants.

Summary

Has come to heavy grief about bees’ cells, unless Huber is wrong [François Huber, New observations on the natural history of bees, new ed. (1841)].

Discusses cart-horses and stripes on a Belgiman [Belgian?].

Summary

Relates domestic affairs.

Thinks his bees’ cell theory will hold good.

Summary

Discusses bees’ cells

and WED’s botanical interests.

Summary

Relates events at home;

hopes WED gets the scholarship.

Summary

Discusses domestic affairs.

Is working at the abstract of his book [Origin].

Asks WED to examine birds’ feet for dirt sticking to them, as this may represent a means of seed dispersal across seas.

Summary

Sends £20. Family news.

Answers WED’s questions about CD’s Journal of researches: Galapagos "productions" all came from America, but "they have since been modified by my principle of Natural Selection".

Summary

Writes to WED about his living arrangements at Christ’s College; reminisces about his own Cambridge days.