Summary

Comments on a case of crossing distant plants of Habenaria

and on hermaphroditism in hybrid plants.

Summary

Thanks correspondent for sending extracts about the jackal.

Summary

Replies to F. Delpino’s criticisms of Pangenesis [Sci. Opin. 2 (1869): 365–7, 391–3, 407–8], especially concerning the difficulty of explaining the regrowth of amputated organs.

Summary

Chickens have arrived safely.

Summary

V. O. Kovalevsky, Russian translator [of Variation], wishes to hear THH lecture.

Summary

Sends letter from Candolle [6915] proposing an experiment with seeds that seems excellent. CD has little time and strength but will do his best. If the staff at Kew could do it, it would be wisest to hand the whole lot over to JDH.

Summary

Mentions views of Sars on species.

EH’s work on Siphonophora.

Summary

Has forwarded the horse’s tooth, sent by JO, to Huxley, who may be able to identify it.

Summary

Both sexes of Mononychus pseudacori and other Coleoptera stridulate.

Summary

Writes, as county magistrate, in an attempt to get payment from the Club for a Mr Reeves.

Summary

Acknowledges receipt of CD’s Primula paper [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 10 (1869): 437–54].

Nectar-sucking birds fertilise tropical flowers.

Writing a "Dualistic apologia for Pangenesis" [see translation in Sci. Opin. 2 (1869): 365–7, 391–3, 407–8].

Homology of the orchid rostellum.

Summary

Is glad that JDH is willing to try Candolle’s experiment [see 6915]. Encloses all the seeds except a few taken from the Moscow and Palermo packets.

Summary

Thanks AdeC for his interesting letter [6915]. The experiment strikes CD as a very valuable one. CD has forwarded the letter to Hooker, who is glad to make the trial. CD will have many experiments in progress next spring but he will open the packet of seeds and if they are numerous, will try a few himself.

Summary

Acknowledges receipt of CD’s cheque in payment of his account.

Summary

Delighted with THH’s review [in Academy (1869)] of Haeckel’s [Natürliche] Schöpfungsgeschichte [1868],

but groans about THH’s view of rudimentary organs. Cites Origin and Variation.

Summary

Sends abstract of her BAAS paper on the role of a parasitic fungus in producing bisexual flowers in Lychnis.

Summary

Cautions FD about fluid in labellum of Coryanthes.

T. H. Farrer is enthusiastic about FD’s papers.

Believes humming-birds fertilise many American flowers.

Mentions his reply to FD’s criticisms ["Pangenesis: Mr Darwin’s reply to Professor Delpino", Sci. Opin. 2 (1869): 426; Collected papers 2: 158–60].

Suggests that FD study fertilisation of Gramineae.

Summary

R. H. Hutton has given a paper about CD at Liverpool Church Congress.

JBI has seen four milk-white partridges among brown ones this year.

Summary

Has a book of photographs of Japanese that CD might be interested in for his work on expression.

Summary

CD gets so many foolish letters from foolish people he has little heart to write to friends.

Gives Down news.

R. H. Hutton, editor of the Spectator, is a clever man.

CD has been much abused, praised, and chaffed by newspapers lately.