Summary

Thanks DN for references.

The Apocyanaceae that catch Lepidoptera represent the most gratuitous case of cruelty in nature known to CD, since the captured butterfly is of no use to the plant.

Summary

At Asa Gray’s request, writes what he knows about Pontederia cordata.

Summary

Reply to CD’s note ["Holly berries", Collected papers 2: 189–90] from a beekeeper: attributes the scarcity of bees to the harshness of weather in preceding spring.

Summary

Sends letter clipped from Manchester Courier on CD’s accounting for scarcity of holly berries by scarcity of bees, and writer’s explanation of latter.

Summary

Has received from the region of the River Uruguay in S. America "a wonderful nest" of a bird called "El boyero", said to perch on the back of cattle and horses.

Summary

[Samuel] Laurence, having painted the Prince of Wales, now wants to paint another great man; will use a photograph but would like a ten minute interview with CD to mix his tints.

Summary

Thanks for the copy of Orchids.

Summary

Is writing Diseases of women [1877]; sends some proof-sheets for criticism.

Summary

Thanks for essays ["Das Aufschiessen der Runkelrüben", Landwirtsch. Jahrb. Berlin 5 (1876): 31–45; "Die Züchtung neuer Getreide Varietäten", ibid 6 (1877): 193–233]. Surprised about Beta vulgaris.

Summary

CD confesses his error with respect to the cause of the scarcity of holly berries. It appears that several causes in combination have led to it. CD still believes rarity of bees played a part, though a subordinate one.

Summary

Thanks WTT-D for praise of Cross and self-fertilisation

and for information about Mussaenda.

Has some algae from Queensland if WTT-D is interested.

Summary

JVC’s publisher [Schweizerbart] must decide soon how many copies of two maps in Volcanic islands and South America are needed.

Has sent new edition of Orchids – greatly altered, but he hopes improved.

Summary

CD has only a trifling point to make in criticism [of RLT’s excerpt from Diseases of women]: he believes "the high value of well-bred males is due to their transmitting their good qualities to a far greater number of offspring than can the female".

Summary

Thanks for new edition of Orchids.

The remarkable papers of Mott on Ernst Haeckel ["On Haeckel’s history of creation", Proc. Lit. & Philos. Soc. Liverpool 31 (1876–7): 41–89].

The part played by carbon in geological changes.

Summary

JDH discusses his and others’ experiments on survival of seeds. Impressed with resistance of some seeds and rapid decomposition of others. He wonders about "vitality" in the abstract.

Summary

Praise for Cross and self-fertilisation: most important point proved is benefit of crossing between related individuals grown under different conditions. This explains adaptive value of dispersal mechanisms.

Summary

Thinks it would be a serious mistake for TB to give up his profession. How the Royal Society will distribute funds is as yet very uncertain, and CD feels that TB may well receive no support as his proposal is too theoretical.

Summary

Has observed the scarcity of humble-bees and subsequently of holly berries this year. But does not think humble-bees ever visit holly flowers, however plentiful they may be.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s frank criticism of his views.

Hooker advises him to apply for aid to work out glaciation between Pyrenees and Alps.

Summary

Lists misprints in Cross and self-fertilisation.

Sends observations and references relevant to a new edition of Expression.