Summary

Agrees François Delsarte’s view [that the eyes do not show emotion, only indicate the object of it], is probably wrong.

Summary

Regrets he cannot receive JVC at Down on Monday as he would then be too unwell to travel on Tuesday, when he must leave for a visit [to Abinger Hall, according to the Journal].

Has been working hard on Drosera and Dionaea. His next book will be on these plants and not, as he had intended, "On evil effects of Inter breeding".

Summary

Thinks highly of GHD’s article [probably "On beneficial restrictions to liberty of marriage", Contemp. Rev. 22 (1873): 412–26]. A good omen for the future.

Summary

Discusses utility of plant secretions to ants.

Will read TB’s book when published [The naturalist in Nicaragua (1874)].

Summary

Starts tomorrow for visit to Farrer and Effie [Euphemia Farrer, daughter of Hensleigh Wedgwood]. Has not done such a feat [i.e., staying as a guest of someone outside the immediate family?] for 25 years.

Has been half killing himself with Drosera.

Summary

Thanks [FC] for his letter concerning a pony changing colour during the winter,

and remarks on the erection of human body hair, goose-skin, and the influence of colour and temperature on skin.

Summary

Thanks RM for his paper on mimicry.

Cannot answer RM’s query because he believes it impossible to define large variations.

Believes monstrosities are generally injurious and are not often, if ever, taken advantage of in nature.

Summary

Asks JDH why so many plants are protected by a thin layer of waxy matter or with fine hairs.

Wrote to John Smith for a plant of Oxalis sensitiva, but it has not acted well.

Rejoices over Ayrton’s retirement. Hopes W. P. Adam, his successor, is a good sort of man.

Summary

Thinks it would be worth while testing for electrical changes in the leaves of insectivorous plants.

Summary

Observations on bees’ biting holes in Lathyrus.

Suggests an experiment FD could carry out with Drosera.

CD is working on Mimosa, and "everything has turned out as perversely as possible".

Summary

Pollination and floral structure of Lathyrus. Asks where bees bite through the flowers.

Summary

Asks JDH to inquire of gardeners at Kew what they think about injury to plants from watering during sunshine. Wishes to experiment. He is already convinced that drops of water do not act as burning lenses.

Summary

Thanks for copy of HS’s Descriptive sociology [1873].

Summary

CD can provide leaves of Dionaea if JSBS wishes to investigate electric currents in them.

His experiments show that the digestive action of Drosera seems like that of true digestion.

Summary

Comments on experiments of touching seeds with acid.

Summary

Asks THF to examine old flowers of Coronilla for holes bored by bees.

Is investigating whether drops of water injure leaves.

Summary

Thanks MT for information on Drosera filiformis [see 8989].

Warns her against publishing statement about Drosera bending towards flies or meat that they have not touched.

Will send his book [Insectivorous plants] when published.

Summary

Thinks THF has solved the mystery of Coronilla.