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.

Summary

D. A. Spalding has asked for information to help with his experiments on sense of direction in animals. Has arrived at same results as GHD with blindfolded children. Will GHD let him have his results?

Summary

Thanks JSBS for his work. CD concludes the ferment of Drosera must differ from pepsin.

Summary

CD has forwarded proofs of Descent [2d edition]. Urges GHD not to work on them if his poor health makes them too tiring.

Thanks GHD about Spalding [i.e., for responding to Spalding’s request, see 9472].

Summary

Intends to keep working on [Descent, 2d ed.] proofs despite his illness.

Summary

Thanks GdeS for his "Études sur la végétation" [Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.) 5th ser. 15 (1872): 277–315]. "Nothing can be more important … than your evidence of the extremely slow and gradual manner in which specific forms change."

Hopes GdeS will shed light on whether polymorphic forms like Rubus and Hieracium are generating new species at present; CD doubts this.

Summary

Comments on CL’s planned bequest to science. CD would do the same if he had fewer sons.

Summary

Movement in plants; effect of syringing on Opuntia plants that capture insects with their flowers.

Summary

Thanks CD for his answer to his letter. It has not convinced him – he still sees no reason to believe in the prophylactic effect of the vaccine.

Sends an article he has written answering Émile Blanchard of the Academy. Naturalists in France who occupy official positions are not independent.

Summary

Thanks CHM for a report about birds of the United States [see 9461].

Summary

CD is deeply pleased by AG’s article on him in Nature [10 (1874): 79–81].

Is preparing book on "Drosera and Co." for the printers. Reports observations on digestion in Drosera and Pinguicula.

Summary

Discusses effects of water on movement of insectivorous plants.

Has just found that Pinguicula can digest albumen.

Asa Gray writes that Sarracenia secretes trail of fluid to attract insects [see 9455].

Summary

Thanks ID for interesting and curious facts but doubts that he will have time to enter more closely into the subject of the intellect of animals.

Nothing would give CD more "pleasure & interest" than to see ID’s country, "now so great & destined to be so much greater", but he is quite incapable of "so great an exertion as crossing the Atlantic".

Summary

Profoundly grateful for AG’s article in Nature; he is especially pleased by what AG says about teleology.