Summary

Sends [for CD’s possible use] his observations on spines of fir used by worms to block burrows.

Summary

CD will be glad to keep the proof of the medal.

He is decidedly better again.

Summary

Sends enclosed letters and hopes they are not too late. Letter of 8 July 1881 important because it contains clear statement of CD’s attitude to religious questions.

Summary

CD will take care of the eight little rabbits. FG outlines their future.

Summary

Sends drawings of dogs in different attitudes, drawn by his friend A. May. FD should not trouble CD unless he thinks the drawings will please him. [See Expression, pp. 54–5.]

Summary

Asks DO to return enclosed post-card with locality of Genlisea aurea specimen that DO had sent.

Summary

Returns corrected proofs [of Insectivorous plants].

Summary

Proofs have come. It will be jolly coming down to Southampton.

Summary

FD has asked J. B. Sanderson about Mucin.

Summary

Sends proofs of Variation [2d ed.] for FD to look over.

Summary

Sends Linnean papers.

Summary

Sends thanks for CD’s help in making him a Fellow of the Linnean Society. Dyer has sent some Erinem.

Summary

[The black-balling of Edwin Ray Lankester by the Linnean Society] is a most scandalous shame. Will arrange for his own admission to fellowship of the Society.

Summary

Sends Fritz Müller’s view that many of the pointed appendages on the tip of the maxilla of Vanessa atalanta are organs of feeling or taste.

Summary

CD has just had an interview with Edward Frankland, who "almost laughs" at FD’s idea of getting potash and soda out of the soil by treating it with sulphuric acid. Asks FD to send him a soil sample to give to Frankland. Sends enclosures giving address and labels for soil samples.

Summary

Good news about Frankland. Expecting burnt earth. Almost finished the Foodbodies Paper on Acacia. He and Amy are learning to use the new printing machine.

Summary

Expresses his pride in FD, whose article ["On the structure of the snail’s heart", J. Anat. Physiol. 10 (1876): 506–10] was highly praised by G. H. Lewes.

Lewes has also been quoting FD’s letter in Nature [13 (1876): 384–5] on pycrotoxine in relation to the vivisection controversy.

Was introduced to James Sully, author of the article in Mind on Wilhelm Wundt ["Physiological psychology in Germany", 1 (1876): 20–43]

and Sensation and intuition (1874) [see 10320], by "Mrs Lewes" (George Eliot).

Summary

Has read letter from Jemmy. Amy has been practicing on the printing machine. Fritz has come back from the Vicar of Orpington.

Summary

Has had a cold. Salvia hasn't come yet. Will look for orchids tomorrow. Will send off bull's-horn acacia on Monday or Tuesday.