His brother Cecil is reading Coral reefs, and, as his business involves the Keeling Islands and Torres Straits, he offers to make any observations CD might want.

Thanks for congratulations on his coming birthday. Has nothing special to say as a preface to S[erbian] edition [of Origin (1878)], except to hope it is in every way successful.

Sends curious, coloured pea seeds.

Sends CD Dr Wood’s lecture on insectivorous plants.

Had no intention of antagonising CD with his observations on Linum; was anxious to account for its apparently different behaviour.

Discusses various authors’ interpretations of the structure of the embryo of grasses.

Discusses the structure of grass embryos; states differing theories regarding which part of the seed corresponds to the cotyledon.

Forwards an unspecified work for FD to read.

Sends letter and seeds from [F. J. Cohn].

Is working too hard.

On an elephant’s crying when foot was operated on.

Thanks HM for his review [of Forms of flowers, Kosmos 2 (1877–8): 286].

Thinks HM’s previous article was very important [Kosmos 2 (1877–8): 128–40]. CD will "heartily rejoice" if HM has explained the steps by which Rhamnus and Valeriana have been rendered dioecious.

Wishes to borrow third part of Fritz Müller’s article on sexual selection in butterflies [Kosmos 2 (1877–8): 218–24].

Is forwarding material on stridulation, including Prof. Wood-Mason’s paper ["Note on Mygale stridulans", Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1877): 281–2], which should interest CD.

The portrait of Erasmus Darwin by Wright of Derby has been dispatched.

Sends cutting on origin of variety of merino sheep.

Would like references to works on breeding.

Cites language books; a comparison of them shows unity of language.

Constituents of spermaceti ointment supplied to CD. Perhaps effect was caused by substance used to bleach the bees-wax.

LD’s chemical analysis of lamp-black.

Has been testing lamp-black for ammonia.

Encloses some notes on maize that may be useful.

CD elected an honorary professor of the Institucion Libre de Enseñanza.

In London and wishes to meet JDH.