Summary

Sends notes on observations of Passiflora and Tacsonia; Hooker thinks they would be worth reading at Linnean Society.

Summary

Comments on notes made by THF on Passiflora and Tacsonia. Suggests he examine more species. Recalls his own observations on P. princeps and Tacsonia.

Summary

"Darwin is a wise man."

Is sending Passifloras.

Summary

Observations on Passiflora.

Hildebrand on geraniums.

Summary

Sends a "guess" about Mimosa leaf structure as an answer to one of CD’s questions.

Has found a Passiflora princeps.

Summary

Encloses extract from a letter from Fritz Müller about humming-birds visiting Passiflora, "as a caution about Passiflora in contrast with Tacsonia".

[Signed with CD’s name by Emma Darwin.]

Summary

Agrees that it is wise to delay [publishing?] on Passiflora.

Puts queries he wants CD to send [to Fritz Müller] on bees visiting flowers in winter.

Summary

Encloses part of letter from Fritz Müller on Passiflora, with seeds.

Is endeavouring to have included in next census a question as to whether the parents in each household are cousins.

Summary

On death of his wife. Botany a solace.

Summary

Not discouraged by F. Müller’s Passiflora.

Observations on insects visiting barberries.

Summary

Fertilisation of barberries.

Passiflora.

Is continuing his experiments on the comparative growth of crossed and self-fertilised plants.

Summary

Has sent F. Müller "a long screed" about the Passiflora.

Summary

Encloses seeds from Fritz Müller, of a species of Passiflora, fertilised by a humble-bee.

Summary

Has procured a Passiflora flower at last. Structure suited for humming-birds rather than bees.

Summary

Returning CD’s books.

Sympathises with women’s lot in life.

Summary

Forgot to send books.

Saw Miss [Henrietta] Darwin; chastised her for being out when book [Descent] has not yet appeared.

Summary

Parallel between CD’s account of morality [in Descent], of social instinct preceding selfishness, and Henry Maine’s account of notions of property of a community preceding individual property [in Ancient law (1861)].

Summary

Was aware of Maine’s view but never thought of its extension to morals. Cannot avoid thinking that personal property like flint tools must have "strictly belonged to individuals as much as a bone to a dog".

Summary

On private property, with regard to tools and arms; comments on Maine’s book and the history of law regarding property.

Summary

Observations on orchids. Ophrys apifera; confirms CD’s observation on pollinia.  The nesting of ducks in trees is an example of change of instinct and habit.