Summary

Regrets that GJR was passed over for membership in Royal Society. Discusses criteria applied by Council.

Summary

Sends CD Dr Wood’s lecture on insectivorous plants.

Had no intention of antagonising CD with his observations on Linum; was anxious to account for its apparently different behaviour.

Summary

Asks whether CD wishes to join other old "Beagles" in supporting an orphan grandson of Jemmy Button.

Summary

Glad to hear of Ernst Haeckel’s reception in Vienna.

R. Virchow’s address ["Liberty of science", Nature 17 (1877–8): 72–4, 92–4, 111–13] very arrogant.

Sorry to hear of death of Arthur Lane.

Summary

On his discovery of ova of Flustra.

"Pray do not call me Dr Darwin."

Summary

Thanks for £100; will pay for planting this year’s varieties.

Summary

Observations on a sensitive Mimosa.

Comments on structure and positioning of "odoriferous organs" of moths and butterflies,

and feeding habits of butterfly larvae.

Summary

Review of Forms of flowers [Nature 17 (1878): 445–7].

Summary

It is important that notion of "small antiquity" of the earth be upset.

Summary

Sympathises with GJR on dreadful loss [of his sister, Georgina].

Can GJR visit Down?

Onions not yet up.

Summary

Encloses some notes on Descent [2d ed.]. Discusses CD’s contention [p. 130] that natural selection could not act to increase altruistic behaviour in man; considers that the benefits conferred upon a person exhibiting such virtues would outweigh the threat to survival that such behaviour would pose.

Summary

Thanks for letter of sympathy.

Would like to visit in May.

Summary

Asks whether WHF has had time to look at goose’s wing.

Summary

Bones in goose’s wing perfectly normal. Malformation probably due to want of balance in muscles; analogous to club-foot. Injury of the parent not reproduced in offspring, but may have led to disturbance in functions of nerves which control muscles. Would like further study.

Summary

Sends CD two specimens of Fuchsia monstrosities.

He is writing on the geographical distribution of Cheiroptera and can find no information on presence or absence of bats in the Galapagos. Did CD see any there?

Summary

Monstrosity of fuchsia sent by GD not uncommon.

Does not recall bats at Galapagos.

Summary

Will ask Blair for more [goose] wing specimens.

Summary

Encloses report by W. H. Flower on goose’s wing.

Asks RAB to obtain wings from young birds and broken wing from old one. Asks about details of injury.

Summary

Points out evolutionary comments by Alexander Braun in his Betrachtungen über die Erscheinung der Verjüngung in der Natur 1849–50.

Summary

Would like to have some insect photographs identified; they seem to show pretty and new case of protective resemblance.