Summary

Is drawing up the account of his crossing experiments. Requests JDH to add the families after nine genera, the names of which he encloses. Whenever there is no objection he would like to arrange the families in some sort of natural order.

Recommends Spalding’s article on instinct in Macmillan’s Magazine [27 (1873): 265–81].

Summary

Has found Lathyrus maritima on the cliffs near Barmouth.

Summary

He does not accept Wallace’s definition of instinct because it excludes "inherited experience", i.e., "knowledge acquired by and transmitted through ancestors".

House-flies do not seem to have an instinctive fear of trap-door spiders.

Miss Forster gives him news of CD.

Summary

W. H. Flower is ill and obliged to go off for six months. Wants to return the money Flower contributed to fund for his holiday, asks the amount.

Summary

Fascinated by Greg’s Enigmas, though its matter is weak.

Is vexed at being drawn into hostility toward British Museum through William Carruthers’ insolence and presumption.

Recounts visit with Edward Cardwell [Secretary for War].

Has sent Candolle’s book to Gladstone.

JDH indignant at Gladstone’s speech putting English science below French and German.

Thinks it is an accepted dogma that glandular hairs are excreting only. Will ask others to confirm.