Summary

Asks CD’s opinion of a proposed protest [unspecified] and asks whether he will sign it.

Summary

Finds he does not have a duplicate of the Japanese natural history book. Sends other volumes of grotesque pictures.

He can show F. W. Hutton erred in calling Peripatus novae zelandiae self-fertilising; suspects J. F. Bullar has made a similar error on parasitic Isopoda. They both mistook spermatophores for testes.

Summary

Agrees with CD that Charles Voysey’s "Protest" would not do any good.

Has less sympathy with half-hearted sentimental school than with thorough-going orthodoxy. On theological dogmas, benevolence of the Creator.

[Encloses copy of his letter to Voysey.]

Summary

Writes about the purchase of a horse.

Summary

Thanks CD for [2d English edition of] Volcanic islands and South America [1876].

Is at work on Cross and self-fertilisation. Asks about some doubtful points.

Summary

Expresses his pleasure in reading Die Schutzmittel der Blüthen gegen unberufene Gäste (Kerner 1876)..

Realises he has made some errors in Cross and self fertilisation.

Summary

Agrees with much of CV’s proposed protest but cannot sign it. Feels it is likely to do more harm than good.

Summary

Thanks CD for considering his protest, which he has now decided not to carry out.

Summary

Mr Laslett’s estimate is too high. Mr Deards is quicker and better. Discusses building details for house improvement.

Summary

Thanks for Japanese books, and papers by HNM.

Comments on Peripatus.

Not disappointed at what William Thomson says about evolution.

Summary

Tells JVC what changes have been made in the new edition of his geological book [Volcanic islands and South America].

Does not know why he doubted about the Atlantic dust paper – now thinks it worth translating.

Glad JVC has not found Cross and self-fertilisation as intolerably dull as CD feared. Answers his queries about Cross and self-fertilisation.

Summary

Met CD at a bath the previous summer.

Proposes he work on human illness.

Summary

Thanks for a correction. Hopes AG now has all the sheets of Cross and self-fertilisation.

Summary

Sends W. Thomson’s complimentary opinion of his paper "On the influence of geological changes on the earth’s axis" [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 167 (1877): 271–312].

Summary

Encloses printed letter from Land and Water in which he proposes a hypothesis that explains how soaring birds can stay aloft by expelling air from their lungs.

Summary

Sends photograph of man with peculiar facial features, whom HW treated at St Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital.

Summary

Considers different animal instincts, some of which have reversed, others of which have proved persistent.

Summary

Informs CD about Apocynum androsaemifolium, an insectivorous plant not mentioned in CD’s book. Offers to send specimen.

Summary

Promises to propose JJW for membership in Zoological Society.

Sympathises with JJW’s enthusiasm about the Danais and hopes it may become naturalised in this country.

Summary

Pleased to hear about GHD’s paper at the Royal Society.