Summary

Thanks CD for the English edition of his brother’s book [Fritz Müller, Facts and arguments for Darwin (1869)]

and for CD’s memoir on orchids ["Fertilization of orchids", Collected papers 2: 138–56].

Summary

Would like Frederick Smith of the British Museum to determine whether or not some unidentified Westphalian bees are new species.

Summary

HM intends studying bees to find evidence supporting CD’s theories. His work has shown him there are problems in separating species from varieties, and has also revealed many surprising instances of variation in habits.

Summary

Thanks for reference to Hermann Müller on fertilisation [Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)].

Publication plans.

Summary

Interested that HM is studying structure of insects in relation to flowers.

Summary

Thanks for German version of Origin [1867].

Dipterous insects are adapted to eating pollen rather than only to sucking nectar. He describes such adaptations in two dipteran species.

Summary

Sends CD "L’applicazione della teoria Darwiniana ai fiori ed agli insetti visitatori dei fiori" [Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 2 (1870)]. Continues to support vitalism and teleology.

Summary

Recommends H. Müller’s Die Befruchtung den Blumen durch Insekten (1873).

Summary

Agrees with Bates that neuter termites are not modified imagos (sterile females), but modified larvae (of both sexes).

Systematic relations of stingless honey-bees (Melipona and Trigona) are not yet well established.

Summary

Encloses a cheque for £11.19.9. Will transmit £7.9.4 to Fritz Müller. Thanks for account of the sale of his books, which appears to be in a "lamentable state".

Summary

FM much gratified by the appearance of Für Darwin translation.

Discusses dimorphism in Rubiaceae.

Summary

Hibiscus and Nolana seeds not harvested at Kew. Sends list of the best plants of Lilium he can give.

Asks CD for name of work on orchids mentioned in his supplementary paper ["Fertilization of orchids", Collected papers 2: 138–56].

Summary

Has sent FM’s letter on termites to Nature ["Habits of various insects", Nature 10 (1874): 102–3].

Would be interested in observations on the stingless bees of Brazil.

Summary

Observations on dimorphic and trimorphic plants of Scotland.

On fertilisation of Scrophularia nodosa.

Summary

Is glad CD is working on cross- and self-fertilisation; reports recent works of botanists, notably Thomas Meehan’s ["Are insects any material aid to plants in fertilisation?", Philadelphia Press 13 Aug 1875], in which the importance of cross-fertilisation is denied.

Summary

Sends Living Cirripedia [vol. 2].

Has employed translator for Fritz Müller’s book [Für Darwin (1864)].

Thanks for paper and speech.

Summary

Praises Expression.

Reports on Fritz Müller’s observations of cross- and self-fertilisation. HM will cultivate the two forms [i.e., mainly self-fertilised and mainly cross-fertilised] in the way CD has described.

He continues his observation of wild flowers. Encloses drawing of Viola tricolor with notes on its self-fertility.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s ["Fertilization of orchids", Collected papers 2: 138–56].

Although Thomas Meehan’s paper ["Variations in Epigaea repens", Proc. Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Sci. (1868): 153–6] shows great variability in this genus, JTM sees a need to qualify the generalisation that there is as much variation in the wild as under domestication. He knows no evidence for a constant proportion between variability in the wild and under cultivation.

Observations on correlation between leaf size and exposure to sun and shade.

Has evidence for two varieties of Ophrys apifera in England, which live in mutually exclusive colonies.

Summary

Sends specimens.

Sensitive plants.