Summary

CD is occupied with vegetable physiology.

Prefers to read MS when published.

Summary

Another issue of Origin will be needed for Murray’s annual sale. Has CD any corrections?

Summary

Asks whether CD considers it possible that a mollusc could poison anyone on contact, as RD has heard from missionaries about a certain South Sea variety.

Summary

Pleased CD is satisfied with translation of Cross and self-fertilisation.

Sends £20 royalties for Insectivorous plants (700 sold).

Summary

Thanks CTEvS for photographs of human abnormality;

regrets death of Rudolf von Willemoes-Suhm.

Summary

Cannot give information requested. Seems incredible that mere contact should be poisonous.

Summary

Gives a possible explanation of exceptions to CD’s observation [Descent, ch. 7] that characters correlated with one sex tend to appear late in life.

Summary

Electrotypes and heliotypes can now be sent to Hjalmar Linnström, since payment is guaranteed by the Swedish Consul.

Summary

Sends notes on expression [missing].

Summary

Interesting article by Fritz Müller on sexual selection in butterflies, Kosmos [1 (1877): 388–95].

Summary

JDH has just returned from U. S., where he worked on N. American geographical distribution with Asa Gray.

Summary

Doubts that glands of calyx of cleistogamic Malpighiaceae serve as protection.

Some species of Solanum bear long- and short-styled flowers on same plant.

Changing colours of some flowers may show insects the proper moment for fertilisation.

Doubts that the style of Pontederia cordata changes length.

Sexual difference in wings of some butterflies due to development in male of scales that emit odours to excite female.

Summary

Would like to see the Kosmos article.

Is considering producing a translation of August Weismann’s essays.

Comments on Wallace’s paper on the colours of animals and plants [Macmillan’s Magazine 36 (1877): 384–408, 464–71].

Summary

Has read JT’s address ["Science and man", The Times, 2 October 1877, p. 8]. What JT says about CD honours and pleases him. JT’s short character of Faraday is beautiful.

Summary

JBI reports that the editor of Journal of Horticulture has identified the tree at Loch Carron as Sambucus racemosa, red-berried elder.

Summary

Welcomes JDH home from American expedition.

Summary

Specimen ruined in transit.

Drosera spathulata modified form of D. rotundifolia.

Sends reference regarding Bolbophyllum.

Summary

Thinks Weismann would welcome a translation.

Was dissatisfied with Wallace’s article.

Summary

CD sends £5.5.0 with a formal note "as some aid to Mrs Beke", but does not wish to subscribe for Dr Beke’s work on Mt Sinai.

Summary

Asks for some seeds of coniferous plants. Wants to examine their first leaves.