Has made out some of the functions of "bloom", which he outlines.
Has made out some of the functions of "bloom", which he outlines.
Sends two papers on Roman ruins at Cirencester, which he asks CD to return.
Worm observations.
Thanks for another part of Australian orchids.
An example of inheritance confined to one sex.
In Descent [1: 12] CD discusses intoxication among animals. South African elephants reportedly eat a plant that makes them wild.
Cites another example of inheritance of maternal impressions.
Thinks most monkeys would become habituated to alcohol if they could get it.
Has reread copy of Fritz Müller’s letter that CD sent some time ago and would like to publish the entomological observations in it.
Sends a list of errata in Forms of flowers.
Pleased with CD’s interest in temperance. Can he quote CD? Sorry the elephant story is a myth. It fits his argument for temperance: a passion for alcohol is natural [primitive]. Only the morally developed can resist. Moral development will take a long time. Thus education cannot cure alcoholism now. Thus public sale of alcohol must be outlawed. Although he is a follower of J. S. Mill and Herbert Spencer he has been forced to this conclusion.
Criticises passages of Insectivorous plants. Suggests plants be weighed before and after feeding to prove they have gained nourishment.
Thanks RIL for notes.
Asks about movement of Euphorbia.
Is doubtful about the publication of Fritz Müller’s letter after so long an interval.
Wants a Euphorbia to test for leaf movements.
Young Belgian students [L. A. Errera and Gustave Gevaert] ask CD to read their paper, which summarises Cross and self-fertilisation. They criticise CD’s views on the comparative effects of crossing flowers on the same stem and fertilisation of a flower by its own pollen ["Sur la structure et les modes de fécondation des fleurs", Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg. 17 (1878): 38–181, 182–248].
Thanks JVC for correcting a bad blunder in Forms of flowers.
His health fairly good; has been able to work "pretty hard".
Agrees to look over MS.
Describes data relating to variability of Primula elatior.
Count Schouvaloff asserts that CD’s works are prohibited in Russia. Is he not mistaken?
Encloses Fritz Müller’s letter.
Is exhibiting butterflies in which variations in the female show a finely graded series. Believes dimorphism can be explained by the selection of the extremes of such a series and the consequent extinction of the intermediates.