Summary

GHD’s corrections seem very good. Murray hopes there will be few corrections in Descent. CD assured him no changes have been made merely for improving style.

Wants very much to hear about "the terrible cousin affair".

Summary

Requests permission to call briefly to discuss Drosera.

Summary

Approves of proof [of subscription appeal for Dohrn’s Naples station]. Suggests names.

Summary

Has received circulars, and contributions from Lyell and George Busk [for Naples biological station].

Summary

Thanks for letter relating to domesticated bullfinches’ instinctively cutting off cowslips [see 9430]. Suggests observing whether the birds swallow any part of flower or particular parts.

Summary

Asks CHM to send his paper.

Summary

Agrees to sign FDeC’s certificate for admission to the Royal Society.

Summary

Returns FDeC’s certificate for the Royal Society signed.

Summary

CD’s son Horace wishes to continue at Easton and Anderson’s Works. CD trusts they will not bind him to long hours of work as this would be against medical advice.

Summary

Thanks for the acid digestion experiments, which can be printed as they are. CD trying Drosera on dentine and enamel.

Summary

Would be interesting to discuss political economy in light of evolution. Recommends Walter Bagehot Physics and politics [1872] and Descent in which source of moral sense is discussed.

Summary

Regrets he cannot comply with request because of his work and poor health.

Delighted to have seen correspondent’s "wonderful experiment" at Royal Society.

Summary

Interested in TMR’s investigation of drift. Narrative 1: 545–6 contains catalogue of shells collected. Much struck by marine productions of Tierra del Fuego.

Summary

Recommends that JM consider publishing a new edition of J. F. McLennan’s Primitive marriage [1865]. CD considers it very valuable and not too indelicate.

Summary

CD is rather disappointed by the money raised for Dohrn. Had hoped for £700–800.

Summary

Encloses, for examination, residue from skim-milk which has been on the glands of Drosera. Asks TLB to confirm his views on action of Drosera secretion on milk. Asks about effects of pepsin and hydrochloric acid in digestive juice.

Summary

Has just finished new editions of Descent

and Coral reefs.

Is working on a book almost wholly on Drosera; thinks he has made some discoveries.

Will never have strength and life to complete more of the series of books related to Origin.

Summary

Encloses notes concerning his life and list of publications.

Returns the letters about primroses: they contain little that is new. Dr Bree’s is the best.

Summary

Discusses digestion by insectivorous plants, asks JSBS to try same experiments using pepsin as the digestive agent to see how the results compare with CD’s observations on digestive power of Drosera.

Summary

Requests sewage water (and oleic acid) for experiments to determine sensitivity of leaves [of Drosera].