Summary

Since CD has decided not to answer S. Butler’s charge, WSD will not reply either.

Will look over Francis Darwin’s lecture ["Climbing plants"] with a view to publishing it in Popular Science Review [19 (1880): 213–29].

Summary

Thinks CD has no need to reply to Samuel Butler’s hostile article [in the Athenæum]. Offers to reply himself.

Summary

Thinks Herbert Spencer has done little service to science but a great service to thinking.

Thinks importance of mathematics overestimated [by J. F. Moulton] in criticising Spencer.

Summary

Returns [Butler’s] attack, which he forgot to send yesterday.

Summary

Sends birthday wishes.

Discusses work on Medusae.

Recalls visit to Down.

Summary

Birthday greetings.

Regrets Butler’s malicious attack.

Summary

Pleasure at receiving CD’s scientific letters to JDH and Hodgson.

The H. Wedgwoods’ pecuniary loss.

Condolences at CD’s father’s death.

Rajah harasses JDH’s work. Lack of supplies, rain, malarial valleys, and landslips make going difficult. Cannot get into Tibet.

"Twenty species [of plants] here [Camp Sikkim] to one there [Tierra del Fuego?] always are asking me the vexed question, ""where do we come from?""."

From observation of terraces descending to steppes and plains of India, he thinks that the Himalayas were once a grand fiord coast.

Has information CD requested on Yangsma valley. JDH’s detailed hypothesis of origin of dam there. Does not agree with CD’s interpretation.

Summary

Describes formation of student nature study club at the University of Jena. Sends birthday greetings from the club.

Summary

Sends birthday greetings

and the good news of a subvention for the Zoological Station received from the German government. There are now 20 naturalists working at the Station.

Summary

It might be possible to borrow £500 [for potato experiments]. Variety of "The Champion" spreading over the Kingdom. Champion lately less able to produce.

Summary

Encloses cuttings from Birmingham Daily Post, 12 February 1880, p. 4, and 13 February 1880, p.5, reporting the presentation to CD of the first honorary membership of the Birmingham Philosophical Society.

Summary

At the inaugural meeting of the Epping Forest & Essex Naturalists’ Field Club, CD was elected an Honorary Member.

Summary

Has been at work on Orchideae for Genera plantarum and has found CD’s Orchids wonderfully useful. Comments on some problems of botanical terminology.

Summary

Agrees not to reply to Butler.

Summary

Asks CD to telegraph a testimonial for him.

Summary

Asks CD’s help in obtaining data on finger-prints – both of ancient impressions in pottery and of living men of all races. Suggests a comparative study with similar markings of lemuroid monkeys might yield results of value about man’s origin. Gives the practical utility of prints in identification in criminal and legal studies and investigations. Encloses a form.

Summary

On clubroot fungus of cultivated Cruciferae.

Will give Russian wheat varieties another trial.

Summary

On instinct in insects. Intends to experiment as CD proposes.

Summary

Thanks CD for his offer. Suggests it be used to start a fund to pay travel expenses of English naturalists who want to come to the Station.

Summary

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

Photographs from New Zealand forwarded.