Summary

Has just finished new editions of Descent

and Coral reefs.

Is working on a book almost wholly on Drosera; thinks he has made some discoveries.

Will never have strength and life to complete more of the series of books related to Origin.

Summary

Encloses letter and sketch from O. N. Rood on pointed ears.

Reports observations on Sarracenia variolaris. A correspondent finds that the fluid in the pitchers is anaesthetic and that a sweet trail runs down the plant, nearly to the ground, to lure up ants.

Encloses two articles on insectivorous plants [Nation 18 (1874): 216–17, 232–4].

Summary

Reports results of experiments comparing digestibility of gluten and fibrin for CD’s work on Drosera.

Summary

Bernard Quaritch interested in reprinting Primitive marriage.

Summary

Encloses notes concerning his life and list of publications.

Returns the letters about primroses: they contain little that is new. Dr Bree’s is the best.

Summary

Discusses digestion by insectivorous plants, asks JSBS to try same experiments using pepsin as the digestive agent to see how the results compare with CD’s observations on digestive power of Drosera.

Summary

Reports on his examination of the effects of Drosera secretion on tooth enamel and dentine, and of artificial gastric juice on fibrous basis of bone.

Summary

Requests sewage water (and oleic acid) for experiments to determine sensitivity of leaves [of Drosera].

Summary

Sends the 1872 Report of the U. S. Geological Survey of the Territories, for which he was zoologist.

Most American naturalists support CD. His study of ornithology convinced him.

Lepus bairdii has a distribution limited to Yellowstone Lake.

No doubt CD knows of O. C. Marsh’s horse fossils.

Summary

Thanks him for copy of book [Der Kampf um’s Dasein am Himmel (1874)].

Summary

Thanks for the sewage water and the oleic acid. The former does not seem to act.

Summary

Sends Edinburgh address so he may be sent sheets of Descent [2d English, for 3d German ed.].

Has a large class for his lectures.

Summary

Descent [2d English ed.] will not be published until November. Will send JVC first sheet of revised proofs soon.

Pleased to hear of success of JVC’s lectures.

Summer plans have changed. Does not yet know when he will take a month’s holiday.

Summary

Sends his paper ["On secondary sexual characters in the Cheiroptera", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1873): 241–52]

and some of his observations of the gecko, which appear to contradict CD’s opinion.

Summary

Sends CD photograph of a "natural curiosity", a bear apparently "painted" with red iron on the face of a soft rock; has also sent copies to a few U. S. scientists.

Summary

Thanks for note and paper ["Secondary sexual characters in Cheiroptera", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1873): 241–52].

Has corrected error in new edition of Descent [1874].

Sees nothing strange in geckos inhabiting frost-clad land and having no claws.

Summary

CD responds to information about residue of milk digested by Drosera. Is obliged for information on strength of acids and albumen and now has little doubt acid had impaired the leaves. Awaits word on pepsin and papaw juice.

Summary

Regret at reading of Huxley’s death [a false report].

Summary

Sends CD provisional information that artificial gastric juice dissolves bone entirely and that gluten and fibrin are completely dissolved in hydrochloric, propionic, and butyric acids. [See Insectivorous plants, pp. 118–19.]

Summary

There is no uniform edition of CD’s work.