Summary

Sends his review of Movement in plants from Die Gartenlaube.

Comments on the future prospects of Kosmos.

Comments on review of Samuel Butler’s Unconscious memory by Romanes in Nature [23 (1880–1): 285–7] and Romanes’ reply to Butler [pp. 335–6].

Asks whether he might have a chapter of Earthworms to print in Kosmos.

Summary

On flowers bending towards light reflected in a mirror.

Summary

Only 270 copies of Movement in plants remain. Suggests printing another 250 and then breaking up type. If CD agrees, has he any corrections?

Sends a copy of Earthworms.

Summary

Murray’s will be happy to publish [Earthworms] on usual terms of two-thirds profits.

Summary

Has sent copies [of Earthworms] to Annals & Magazine of Natural History and to Popular Science Review. If W. S. Dallas edits both, he will have two copies.

Summary

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

Summary

Thanks EH and Ernst Abbe in connection with microscope for his son [Francis].

Summary

Will send copies [of Earthworms] shortly. Troubled by rumour of a mysterious copy in hands of a reviewer.

Summary

Surprised by CD’s intention to publish [Earthworms] so soon. Remonstrates against doing so. Asks deferment until October to co-ordinate with American publication and ensure best profit.

Summary

Hastens to assure CD that his book [Earthworms] will be published as soon as possible, since CD wishes it.

Summary

Memorandum: "3500 Worms!!!" sold at annual sale; 117 Movement in plants; 180 "Naturalist" [Journal of researches]; 600 Origin; 320 Descent.

Summary

Is experimenting with effect of ammonium carbonate on chlorophyll and roots, but finds the results confusing.

Julius von Wiesner has published a book reinterpreting CD’s observations in Movement in plants [see 13422].

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

Passage in first edition of Origin, [p. 184] on bears rendered larger and more aquatic by selection was omitted from subsequent editions on advice of Richard Owen. Has always regretted following that advice.

Summary

Murray has sold 1200 copies [of Earthworms], so another printing of 500 is proposed. Has CD any corrections to send?

Summary

Birthday greetings.

Thinks it best not to reply further to Butler. Has read G. J. Romanes’ article with great pleasure. Romanes is right to ridicule Butler. Quotes passages about Butler from CD letters. Has received letter from F. M. Balfour urging him not to reply to Butler.

Summary

Discusses a lectureship at Aberdeen

and a recent visit to Down.

Summary

Has identified the shell, now separated from the beetle. Sends both to CD.

Summary

Describes lecture at Royal Institution by J. S. Burdon Sanderson on movement of plants and animals; JSBS’s preliminary part was so long that he never got to the plants.

Comments on the triumph of the ladies in the voting at Cambridge.

Mentions F. Galton’s visit to Down, a call on the Huxleys, and a visit with the Duke of Argyll.

Tells a story about the absent-mindedness of Burdon Sanderson.