My dear D^r Dohrn

Many thanks for your most kind letter. I most heartily rejoice at your improved health & at the success of your grand undertaking, which will have so much influence on the progress of Zoology throughout Europe.² If we look to England alone what capital work has already been done at the Station by Balfour & Ray Lankester.³ By the way I was sorry to see the attack on the latter by Fol.⁴ In about another years time you will have another promising young naturalist with you from this country namely M^r Romanes.⁵ When you come to England I suppose that you will bring M^rs Dohrn, & we shall be delighted to see you both here   I have often boasted that I have had a live Uhlan in my house!⁶ It will be very interesting to me to read your new views on the ancestry of the Vertebrates. I shall be very sorry to give up the Ascidians to whom I feel profound gratitude; but the great thing as it appears to me, is that any link whatever should be found between the main divisions of the Animal Kingdom.⁷ I am working very hard in getting ready for the Press a book on Insectivorous Plants;⁸ & the experiments on their power of digestion are I think interesting

With the most sincere good wishes | I remain my dear D^r Dohrn | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin