Dear Sir

I am very sorry for my unfortunate blunder. On receiving the Pinguicula, I wrote at once to return you my cordial thanks.¹ The plants arrived in rather a dry state, but to my joy have recovered and are now growing. They have answered my question abt their catching insects. The leaves of P. grandiflora would be much the best, (as you suggest) for observing whether they catch seeds or small leaves of other plants. You will have seen in my note to M^r Price that I thought I was sure to receive Utricularia; but I have since heard from my son that he has hunted all the ditches near Winchester & the New Forest with no success, as has a friend in the I of Wight.² I was promised some from Ireland, but these also have failed.³ Therefore if you could send me soon a plant with floating leaves, it would be a very great kindness; & I do not care the least about the flowers; it is the bladders which I want to experimentize on.

It would be indispensible I think that the plants should be sent in an old tin box or cannister.

From what you tell me of the habitat of P. grandiflora, I think Hooker must be wrong that it is only a Var..⁴ I should therefore much like to see a plant, & you might perhaps enclose it with Utricularia.—

I know that I am very troublesome & asking many favours; but I can assure you I do not do so idly, for I have been working hard for the last 3 weeks on P. vulgaris

Dear Sir | Yours faithfully & obliged | Ch. Darwin

P.S. | I hope whenever my book is published you will do me the pleasure to accept a copy, but it will not be published for many months.—⁵