Summary

He has promised Mark [coachman to R. W. Darwin and Susan] that CD will continue the payment of £20 a year after EAD’s death; the house is rent free.

Summary

Wants to know whether Variation is published and how the other book [CD’s proposed volume on variation in nature] is going.

Summary

Discusses proposed sale of house and provision for Wynne, the gardener, and his wife.

Summary

Thanks CD for £200 and discusses meeting in London at the beginning of December.

Summary

Sends CD a Cardigan Jacket, ‘one of the most delightful inventions of the age’.

Discusses the Duke of Argyll.

Summary

Suggests investments for CD;

discusses the opening of the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury;

mentions Edward Lumb of Buenos Aires, with whom CD stayed in Argentina.

Summary

Suggests his father lend him the money to pay WED’s succession duty and thereby secure a discount.

Summary

Informs CD of his reply to Argyll and the North British Review criticisms [in "Creation by law", Q. J. Sci. 4 (1867): 471–88]. Cites "the predicted Madagascar moth" and Angraecum sesquipedale.

Birth of Herbert Spencer Wallace.

Summary

Describes his attempts to cross different varieties of borecole, and the results of the crosses.

Summary

Will be glad to have seeds of plants and CD’s climbing plant, which he has no doubt is Siphocampylus.

Anxious about his baby [Reginald Hooker].

Summary

Thanks for German version of Origin [1867].

Dipterous insects are adapted to eating pollen rather than only to sucking nectar. He describes such adaptations in two dipteran species.

Summary

Asks CD whether he has given any thought to the phenomena of spiritualism.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s letter inquiring about capsules produced by the Maxillaria with larger pods [see 5331]. Gives descriptions of Maxillaria and of the other Vandeae.

Describes Oncidium flexuosum.

Tells of botanical results of recent excursion to the German colony Theresopolis. Brought home fine collection of living orchids.

Summary

Offers to send parts of J. Syme, English botany [1863–86] in appreciation of CD’s aid.

Comments on CD’s species theory.

Will exhibit Cambrian fossil at next meeting of Geological Society.

Summary

Discusses dimorphism in plants, especially the Rubiaceae.

Gives observations on orchids; notes varying degrees of self-sterility and a varying success at crossing distinct species.

Mentions local ferns he is collecting

and considers the phenomenon of apparently mimetic plants.

Summary

Finds that after 12 years among north-western Indians he can answer positively only one of CD’s queries about expression. They do blush from shame or anger.

Summary

Reports observations on fertility of orchids he has self-pollinated and crossed with pollen of other species.

Summary

Has been persuaded to accept BAAS Presidency.

On Charles Naudin’s discovery of seeds of Chamaerops fertilised by the date-palm.

Summary

Has been hunting for an otter-hound for CD.

Hopes CD will visit his museum at the Horticultural [Society].

Summary

Discusses sexual and seasonal differences in the plumage of birds and coats of mammals.

Remarks upon variations in the form of the canine tooth between the sexes in mammalian groups.

Plumage of allied species of plover.

Asks CD’s help with work on unimproved domestic animals.