Sends observations from a friend in India confirming CD’s view that bees cut the tubes of flowers to extract [nectar] in order to save time.

Also observations on snails descending from trees on threads suspended from their tails.

The case of the bees interests CD. He does not doubt that because of the size of their jaws humble-bees will be found all over the world to be the biters and hive-bees to profit from their work.

Thinks he has heard of land shells descending in the manner described by RS.

Obliged for letter about horns of sheep.

Mentions case of death from objects impacted in appendix.

Is aware of his error about snipe breeding.

Thanks FdeC for his note and invites criticisms.

Formal note enclosing five guineas for William Pengelly testimonial fund.

Suggests that his Coral reefs be republished.

Thanks CD for book.

Mentions controversy involving Haeckel.

Describes his lectures on Darwinism.

Discusses speech of parrots and starling. [See Descent, 2d ed., p. 85 n.]

Expresses his opinion that the Board should allow the school hall to be used as a reading room in the evenings by the villagers of Down.

Thanks for copy of translation of Variation

and the "admirable work on the microscopical structure of rock" [C. G. Ehrenberg, Mikrogeologische Studien (1873)].

His indignation at the malignant, odious, hypocrite Owen’s attack on JDH. History of Secretaryship [of Royal Society in Nature 9 (1873): 129–30] was best answer to Owen.

Is hard at work on new edition of Descent – a truly awful job.

No use going on with experiments on effects of water on bloom-divested leaves. May have erred. Or it may be that water is only injurious when there is a good supply of actinic rays. Will wait until spring.

Describes an ear from a microcephalous idiot, which does not lend support to Ludwig Mayer’s view [that points on ears are mere variations; see Descent, 2d ed., pp. 15–16].

Is working on involution rather than evolution, with results confirming CD’s teaching.

Concerning secretion of "bloom";

movements of Robinia.

Answers Emma Darwin’s request that the school room be used in the winter as a Reading Room. Protests the Darwins approaching the Education Department directly.

Is about to undertake an intensive investigation with other scientists of general paralysis in its various aspects. Would appreciate CD’s comments on photographs he would submit.

Describes features of an ear of a microcephalous idiot, one of which contradicts Carl Vogt’s views [Mémoire sur les microcéphales (1867)].

Thanks CGE for gift of his latest work [Mikrogeologische Studien (1873)].

Will do what he can to help JC-B with his work on expression of patients suffering from general paralysis.

Thanks CD for subsidence references in response to HHH’s Nature paper ["The distribution of volcanoes", 9 (1874): 141–2].

Hopes to refer to CD’s having previously suggested the corresponding elevation of continents and sinking of the larger oceans in his next letter to Nature [9 (1874): 201–2]. Occurrence of volcanoes at boundary between rising and sinking lands reconciles his views with CD’s.

No summary available.