My dear Sir

I thank you sincerely for your letter. I am very glad to hear about Lathyrus odoratus; for here in England the vars. never cross, & yet are sometimes visited by Bees.² Pisum sativum, I have also many times seen visited by Bombus. I believe the cause of the many vars. not crossing is that under our climate the flowers are self-fertilised at an early period before the corolla is fully expanded.³ I shall examine this point with L. odoratus.⁴

I have read H. Müller’s book, and it seems to me very good. Your criticism had not occurred to me, but is, I think just, viz that it is much more important to know what insects habitually visit any flower, than the various kinds which occasionally visit it.—⁵ Have you seen A. Kerners book “Schutzmittel des Pollens: 1873: Innspruck.”—⁶ It is very interesting, but he does not seem to know anything about the work of other authors.

I have Bentham’s paper in my house, but have not yet had time to read a word of it. He is a man with very sound judgment & fully admits the principle of evolution.—⁷

With many thanks for your kindness, I remain Dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I have lately had occasion to look over again your discussion on anemophilous plants, & I have again felt much admiration at your work.—⁸