Summary

Describes the behaviour of a pet donkey and pig.

Summary

Is sending specimens of Eucalyptus;

goes tomorrow to receive LL.D. [Glasgow].

Summary

Captive and tame birds inheriting the migratory instinct.

Summary

Sends leaves and names by post.

Is writing everywhere for Drosophyllum.

Is deeply interested in Desmodium.

Had no intention of publishing on Nepenthes, the experiments were solely for CD’s "eating". Will continue with egg and raw meat experiments. Asks for advice on how to prove fluid is secreted by the glands.

Searles Wood’s letter is confused and would deny atavism if his principles were accepted.

Summary

Many insects visit Eucalyptus flowers as long as there is pollen to be seen. Asking his colleague, George Masters, to gather insects and flowers at Long Bay for CD.

Observations on wild New Guinea pig in captivity.

Will take CD’s advice to write a book.

Summary

W. H. Flower is ill and obliged to go off for six months. Wants to return the money Flower contributed to fund for his holiday, asks the amount.

Summary

Letter of introduction for Mr Bradley, an expert on spiders.

Summary

Has time only to thank CD for the invaluable hints.

Encloses Lathyrus nissolia seeds.

Summary

Formic acid kills seeds but only rarely makes them dormant – as he presumes ants do. He finds great variation in the vigour of individual seeds. Harvester ants, used in place of formic acid, do not affect germination.

Summary

Has been studying Origin and other works. Has lectured on the subject and would like to send some of his conclusions if CD is willing.

Summary

Suggests raising money to help Anton Dohrn complete the Naples Zoological Station, which is in danger of remaining unfinished.

Summary

Hybrid Motacilla.

Case of female duck leaving mate to pair with male of another species.

Summary

Is pleased that CD found the letters from Bell’s Weekly Messenger to the point.

Encloses extracts relating to benefits derived by animals from altered conditions of life.

Encloses notes on deterioration of short-horns from inbreeding. Breeders agree with him on benefits of introducing fresh blood into inbred stocks.

Summary

Sends information on shedding of reindeer horns in males and females.

Lemmings.

Summary

Encloses A. R. Wallace’s reply [in which he says he will undertake revision of Descent if CD wishes]. HWB says this shows that Wallace is unaware of the scope of revision; suggests need for well-defined terms.

Summary

Has had a week’s cessation of Nepenthes work.

Had to get out a paper for the Linnean Society on Thursday.

Has tried Mimosa albida in hothouse and found it wonderfully sensitive.

A military report from India praises his travel book.

Summary

Discussion of his possible assistance on editorial work for revised edition of Descent.

Summary

Discusses human reactions to pleasant and unpleasant tastes; considers that modifications of these reactions produce several identifiable expressions of general like and dislike.

Summary

Thinks CD’s son George would be more satisfactory than ARW for the work on Descent.

Summary

He has noticed that Mimosa albida leaves closed only partially. It can be objected to CD’s theory that, if true, all, or at least more, species would close their leaves on application of water, unless he can show special injury done to M. albida by water.