Summary

Summarises the "remarkable facts about the movements of plants" in Fritz Müller’s letter of January [12996]. CD comments that Müller’s observations support the conclusion that he and Francis Darwin arrived at – that leaves go to sleep to escape the full effects of radiation.

Summary

The debt of plant geography to voyages may be JDH’s topic at BAAS meeting [at Swansea].

Photographs from New Zealand forwarded.

Summary

Discusses some business matters

and E. A. Darwin’s health.

Summary

Worm observations.

Summary

Discusses possible investments.

Summary

Discusses earthworms and their ability to perceive narrowest points of leaves to draw them into their burrows.

Summary

Discusses investments.

The action of worms when drawing leaves into their burrows.

Summary

Asks whether vegetable mould has an acid reaction. The contents of intestines of earthworms and castings are acid, which leads him to inquire about mould.

Summary

Reports his observations on numbers of Rhododendron leaves found buried [by earthworms].

Summary

Comments on CGS’s The natural conditions of existence [1881] and on views of Moritz Wagner on geographical distribution.

Discusses cause of variability.

Summary

Butler’s reply to EK is a renewed attack on CD. Urges EK not to answer it. His last letter contains everything necessary. Asks EK for dates of CD’s letter asking EK’s permission to publish a translation of his article [on Erasmus Darwin] and of the letter in which he told EK that Butler’s book had been advertised.

Summary

Describes variability in the stamens and pollen of Lagerstroemia, which CD spoke of in Forms of flowers.

Also reports on similar phenomena in Pontederiacea (Heteranthera reniformis).

Has received from Paul Mayer an interesting paper on metamorphosis in Palaemonetes varians, which is also being studied by J. E. V. Boas in Denmark. Shows differences between larval development in Danish forms and those found in southern Italy.

Summary

Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.

Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".

Summary

Sends birthday wishes.

Comments on Movement in plants.

Sends System der Ascrapeden [1880].

Describes work on Challenger Medusae.

Comments on success of CD’s theory.

Summary

Asks EH to call on Zeiss and to help arrange for microscope for Francis Darwin.

Summary

Thanks for pt 6 of [Australian orchids].

Summary

Contemptuous of Samuel Butler.

Has read that Huxley will be Inspector of Fisheries.

When CD visits in spring, he will acquaint him with legalities of Worthing house.

Summary

Orders vaseline and pomatum – the latter to put on his beard, which in dry weather feels uncomfortably harsh.

Summary

Birthday greetings.

Thinks it best not to reply further to Butler. Has read G. J. Romanes’ article with great pleasure. Romanes is right to ridicule Butler. Quotes passages about Butler from CD letters. Has received letter from F. M. Balfour urging him not to reply to Butler.

Summary

Thanks GJR for his second letter replying to Butler [Nature 23 (1880–1): 335–6].