Summary

Advises correspondent on adopting a career; "each person shd. follow his natural bent & improve his special abilities".

Strongly recommends study of J. S. Mill’s Logic.

His own zeal for science was most stimulated by Herschel’s Introduction to the study of natural philosophy.

Summary

Asks for a copy [of an unknown item] to be sent to Down.

Summary

CD forwards letter from F. J. Cohn [11093] that provides confirmation of observations by Francis Darwin on the contractile filaments protruded from the glands of Dipsacus.

Summary

Sends letter from Fritz Müller [11191] containing observations on plants and insects of South Brazil, with prefatory comments.

Summary

Thanks correspondent for note and specimen; they will be of use in new edition of Forms of flowers.

Summary

CD’s letter on wide distribution of freshwater plants and animals introduces a letter to him from Arthur H. Gray [see 11497].

Summary

Passes judgment on photo of embryological interest.

Summary

Cannot help with correspondent’s study. CD has a poor ear for music. Recommends Helmholtz’s work.

Summary

Urges publication of an exposure of Williams the spiritualist medium.

Summary

Thanks correspondent for the copies of his engraving. "The work seems to be, though I cannot pretend to be a judge, a vy fine production".

Summary

Orders a sheet of gold-beater’s skin for plant experiments.

Summary

Comments on a letter from Fritz Müller [11839] and particularly on the subject of the disappearance of certain structures in organisms. FM’s explanation deserves serious consideration.

Summary

Thanks for letter and articles: gratifying to hear that agriculturalists attend to his works.

Cannot decipher German writing so has stuck the address from the letter on the envelope.

Summary

Thanks for note and enclosure. Has written to [David?] Landsborough to say dried specimen was just what he wanted. Would like some more in spirits.

Very unwell.

Summary

Unable to accept invitation.

Looked at leaves and saw no sign that animal matter was absorbed. Believes insects were caught only accidentally.

Summary

Is obliged for the note about Wallis Nash’s death, but he has since heard that the report was false.

Summary

Thanks correspondent for lecture tickets, but regrets he will be unable to attend.

Summary

Reports information sent by E. Schulte [12254] on the colours of the male Diadema bolina.

Discusses extent to which consciousness came into play in the origin of certain instincts, including sexual display.

Summary

Regrets he has not time to develop points touched on in her letter and that he does not understand what information she wants.

Summary

CD has repeated a test of whether hybrids of the common and Chinese goose are fertile inter se. Reports his success, and comments on its significance for the theory of descent.