Summary

Agrees François Delsarte’s view [that the eyes do not show emotion, only indicate the object of it], is probably wrong.

Summary

Reports that the ability to move ears is common among the Sioux.

Summary

Notes criticising Max Müller’s views on language and Darwinism.

Summary

Sends extracts, from his forthcoming book [The naturalist in Nicaragua (1874)], about the secretion by plants of honey to attract the protection of ants. Invites CD’s comments.

Summary

Regrets he cannot receive JVC at Down on Monday as he would then be too unwell to travel on Tuesday, when he must leave for a visit [to Abinger Hall, according to the Journal].

Has been working hard on Drosera and Dionaea. His next book will be on these plants and not, as he had intended, "On evil effects of Inter breeding".

Summary

Thinks highly of GHD’s article [probably "On beneficial restrictions to liberty of marriage", Contemp. Rev. 22 (1873): 412–26]. A good omen for the future.

Summary

Discusses utility of plant secretions to ants.

Will read TB’s book when published [The naturalist in Nicaragua (1874)].

Summary

Returned last night. Huxley, left at Baden Baden, remarkably well.

Would like to come to Down with Strachey.

Summary

Starts tomorrow for visit to Farrer and Effie [Euphemia Farrer, daughter of Hensleigh Wedgwood]. Has not done such a feat [i.e., staying as a guest of someone outside the immediate family?] for 25 years.

Has been half killing himself with Drosera.

Summary

On inheritance of gesture.

Summary

Sends paper to be published in Sydney Mail on primitive man.

Sends lists of earth [castings] made by worms [see Earthworms, p. 127],

and a catalogue of Australian Lepidoptera.

Summary

Thanks [FC] for his letter concerning a pony changing colour during the winter,

and remarks on the erection of human body hair, goose-skin, and the influence of colour and temperature on skin.

Summary

Encloses a copy of his paper on mimicry [Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1873): 153–61].

Asks whether large variations are more often limited to one sex than slight ones.

Summary

Thanks RM for his paper on mimicry.

Cannot answer RM’s query because he believes it impossible to define large variations.

Believes monstrosities are generally injurious and are not often, if ever, taken advantage of in nature.

Summary

Asks JDH why so many plants are protected by a thin layer of waxy matter or with fine hairs.

Wrote to John Smith for a plant of Oxalis sensitiva, but it has not acted well.

Rejoices over Ayrton’s retirement. Hopes W. P. Adam, his successor, is a good sort of man.

Summary

Answers CD’s questions of 25 July [8987] about temperatures at which cold-blooded animals are killed.

Doubts heat rigor was induced in Drosera. Gives his view of the relation of excitability to increase in temperature.

Suggests experiment to show that electrical changes in plant are the same as in animal muscle and nerve [see Insectivorous plants, p. 318].

Summary

Sends CD an excerpt from N. Y. Tribune [missing] about an account by W. D. Whitney, of Yale, of scientific work in Colorado.

Summary

Has found Lathyrus maritima on the cliffs near Barmouth.

Summary

Has observed CD’s points. Except for leaves of Nelumbium, would have supposed both wax and hairs were connected with absorption or respiratory functions. May subserve some function connected with rays of sun. Watering most prejudicial in the hot sun: a splendid subject for experiments.

Adam is a good man.

Summary

Gives his opinion on why tubes of peas split to the right of the loose stamens [inLathyrus sylvestris].