Summary

Thanks for AG’s book, How plants behave [see 8363].

Is correcting proofs of Expression.

Summary

Discusses the coiling of tendrils of climbing plants.

AG’s recent tour of the U. S.

Summary

Sends, via C. L. Brace, his book [Botany for young people, pt 2 How plants behave (1872)], "your own science adapted to juvenile minds".

Summary

Notes the occurrence in U. S. of "vermiform piles" produced by earthworms.

Summary

CD’s finding the nervous system of Dionaea is wonderful.

Coiling of tendrils of climbing plants.

Thanks CD for the new book [Expression].

Summary

O. N. Rood sends two copies of an amusing picture by T. F. Beard, "The young Darwinian" to AG, who forwards one to CD.

Summary

Questions AG on earthworm activity in North America and would welcome information from northern Canada if AG has a correspondent there.

Summary

Spiralling of tendrils.

Has worked hard on Drosera.

Is interested in tracing the "nerves" of Dionaea which follow the vascular bundles. Finds he can paralyse half of the leaf by pricking it at a certain point.

Wishes AG to carry out two experiments on D. filiformis.

Has received AG’s Dubuque address [Am. J. Sci. 3d ser. 4 (1872): 282–98].

Summary

A. S. Packard would like to visit CD to pay his respects.

Summary

Thanks for Expression, which he received through Asa Gray.

Relates some personal experiences of unconscious sympathy.

Summary

Drosera filiformis captures only small insects [but see 8989].

Writes of her experiments with butterflies.

CD’s theory steadily gains ground in the U. S., despite Agassiz.

Summary

CD’s letter inviting him to visit did not reach him till he returned home.

Summary

JS’s valuable observations on worms in India along with Asa Gray’s in the United States confirm CD’s opinion that worms work in the same way all over the world. Requests further information on the subject.

Summary

Asks for London address of George King [Superintendent of Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta], so he can ask about worm-castings sent by King from S. India. Has just received a splendid letter from John Scott on worms.

Asks where he can buy Dionaea.

Summary

Thanks AdeC for great pleasure his new book [Histoire des sciences (1873)] has given him. Comments on several of the essays.

When AdeC backs up Asa Gray in saying all instincts are congenital habits, CD must protest.

Asks several questions about butterflies of the Alps discussed on p. 322 [of Histoire].

Summary

Obliged for letter on worm-castings. Asks GK to observe them in southern Europe.

Summary

Is resuming the study of worm-casts as he believes they will bear on the denudation of land. Requests specific information on the relative number, size, and manner of deterioration of worm-casts in India.

Summary

Thanks for notes on worm-castings. Amount of ammonia surprises CD. David Forbes asserts that published analysis of carbon in vegetable matter valueless. Suspects that worms search for food and do not blindly swallow earth.

Summary

JDD is sending a copy of his book, Corals and coral islands [1872], with his compliments.

Summary

Discusses Mivart’s reply ["Genesis of species", North Am. Rev. 114 (1872): 451–68] to CW’s review and to Huxley.

Asks whether CD knows anyone to whom he could usefully send a copy of his phyllotaxy paper [Mem. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. n.s. 9 (1867–73): 379–415].