Summary

Asks whether the Litchfields may call on her. "My wife complains that she has been very badly treated and that I ought to have asked permission for her to call on you with me when we next come to London: but I tell her that I still have some shreds of modesty."

Summary

Although he believes in evolution, TM feels that natural selection is an inadequate cause;

nor is he satisfied with E. D. Cope’s law of acceleration and retardation.

Discusses some of his work relating to nutrition and sex and colour and sex.

Summary

Thanks OCM for the papers he has sent.

Summary

Recommends Hermann Müller’s Die Befruchtung der Blumen [1873].

Summary

Wonders whether CD has any idea how the cuckoo manages to match its eggs to those of its host; believes it possible that the diet of the nestling cuckoo, which varies with its host, may affect its behaviour and the colour of its eggs.

Summary

Praise for and detailed comments on Expression.

Two cases of coloration in animals – one from sexual selection, the other helping to procure prey [see Descent, 2d ed., pp. 542–3].

Summary

Has been told CD wants photo of him; sends one. Requests a portrait photo of CD for his album. KEvB apologises for his English and his shaky hand; he is 88 years old.

Summary

Thanks for report on J. V. Carus’ lecture.

Glad to hear suspicion about J. H. Stirling groundless.

CD has not seen R. W. Emerson. In last two or three years has seen several Yankees. Saw a good deal of the Nortons [Charles Eliot and Susan Ridley Sedgwick].

Summary

Praises Expression.

Reports on Fritz Müller’s observations of cross- and self-fertilisation. HM will cultivate the two forms [i.e., mainly self-fertilised and mainly cross-fertilised] in the way CD has described.

He continues his observation of wild flowers. Encloses drawing of Viola tricolor with notes on its self-fertility.

Summary

At Asa Gray’s request, responds to CD’s questions about WMC’s observations on Dionaea and particularly about the size of the insects captured and the excitability of the leaves after an insect is captured.

Summary

CD’s notice in Nature [Collected papers 2: 171–2] induces WP to send letters from correspondents recounting stories of a dog that learned to open a door and of another that found his way home from London to Cowes.

Summary

CD would like to know what were the sizes of insects caught by the older leaves of Dionaea.

Summary

Contradicts passages in Descent and Variation.

Summary

Printed memorandum giving reasons why there should be subsidy on a large scale of scientific research unencumbered with teaching.

Summary

The evidence of tameness of Alpine butterflies [see 8672] seems good and the fact is surprising to CD for they can hardly have acquired this in their short life-time.

The question whether butterflies are attracted to bright colours independently of the supposed presence of nectar is still unanswered.

CD has great difficulty in believing that any temporary condition of parents can affect the offspring.

Pangenesis is much reviled, but CD must still look at generation from this point of view, which makes him averse to believing that an emotion has any effect on the offspring.

Summary

Recounts instances suggesting that animals have a sense of direction.

Summary

Sends formula for pure pepsin for experiments on digestion of Drosera, and information on legumin. Will send chlorophyll soon.

Summary

Observations on bees’ biting holes in Lathyrus.

Suggests an experiment FD could carry out with Drosera.

CD is working on Mimosa, and "everything has turned out as perversely as possible".

Summary

Acknowledges correction in text of Variation . "You are a most conscientious editor & are as careful as I am apt to be careless."

Summary

William Spottiswoode was not at home, but JT sought out Herbert Spencer. Spencer will come with JT to see CD [about the Huxley fund].