Summary

Discusses WED’s growing interest in botany; would be grateful for certain observations.

Is much concerned about Horace’s illness.

Has sent Orchids MS to printers

and will work a little at dimorphism.

Summary

Discusses earthworms and their ability to perceive narrowest points of leaves to draw them into their burrows.

Summary

Arrangements for the visit to Southampton.

Summary

Discusses the direction of WED’s studies.

Tells of the response to the Origin and the impact that it has made in England and abroad.

Summary

Discusses legal arrangements [unspecified].

Summary

Wants WED to collect some worm-castings from Beaulieu Abbey.

Summary

Wants WED to forward dried Malaxis to G. C. Oxenden.

Has been dissecting Viola flowers.

[Letter from Emma Darwin to WED, verso p. 3.]

Summary

Discusses earthworm activity

and animal grazing on slopes.

Summary

Thanks WED for eyeglass.

Reports on health of Horace and family matters.

Has finished Orchids.

Summary

Worm-castings from [Roman] ruins at Brading contained bits of tiles or bricks. Obliged for WED’s trouble about Brading castings.

Movement in plants well received in Germany.

Summary

Writes about the purchase of a horse.

Summary

Writes of dimorphic plants.

Summary

Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.

Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".

Summary

Discusses WED’s observations on polymorphic flowers.

Summary

Discusses the purchase of some land;

plans to visit Southampton.

Summary

Is glad WED is in the sixth [form]. Discusses WED’s intention to become a barrister.

Summary

Discusses dimorphic plants, valerian and Erythraea. Would like to look at them; suggests WED draw up a paper on them.

Summary

Writes of events at Down: mostly of playing billiards on their new table.

Summary

Asks whether WED can collect some worm-castings from Beaulieu Abbey.

Summary

Sends Asa Gray’s lectures on Natural science and religion [1880].

Greatly enjoyed their stay at Bassett.