Interested to hear about the peas.

Thinks CD’s case of twins with crooked fingers may be one from his twin study.

Agrees to write to William Ogle [about twins with crooked fingers].

Describes growth of sweetpeas for experiment.

Sends a lecture CD wished to see

and corrects himself about the twins.

Thanks FG for issues of Revue [Scientifique vol. 7, containing lectures by Claude Bernard].

Ogle says twins [with crooked fingers] are his sisters.

Recommends book by M. A. Puvis [De la dégénération des variétés de végétaux (1837)].

Has heard that FG will write on inheritance. Huxley does not believe in E. G. Balbiani’s views on subject.

Outlines a memoir he will give at the Anthropological Society in which he differs theoretically with Pangenesis.

In London yesterday for Vivisection Commission.

Is revising his chapter on Pangenesis [in Variation, 2d ed.] to allow that gemmules probably multiply in the reproductive organs.

Notes examples of inheritance of acquired characteristics cited by Brown-Séquard.

Doubts that double parentage is necessary for complex organisations.

Sends a proof of his "Theory of heredity" from the Contemporary Review [27 (1875): 80–95; revised in J. Anthropol. Inst. 5 (1876): 329–48]. Welcomes CD’s help and criticism.

Comments on FG’s paper ["A theory of heredity"]. Finds essay difficult to understand. Objects that FG’s theory conflicts with phenomenon of use and disuse. Conflicts also with rarity of bud-variations in nature.

Says he has ordered FG’s article ["The history of twins", Fraser’s Mag. 92 (1875): 566–76; revised in J. Anthropol. Inst. 5 (1876): 391–406].

Responds to suggestions and criticisms CD made to "theory of heredity" [see 10245].

Comments on FG’s paper ["The history of twins"].

CD is "in a passion with the Spectator who always muddles".

Thanks for the peas which arrived in "beautiful order".

Mentions revisions [in Variation, 2d ed.].

Argues with FG’s theory of heredity, defending Pangenesis: "I cannot doubt that every unit of the hybrid is hybridised and sends forth hybridised gemmules."

Outlines in simple form the statistical distribution of inherited characteristics in a theory of "organic units".

Gives further explanations of his theory of stirps and his objections to Pangenesis, in answer to a question of CD’s.

Thanks FG for his report [on the statistical validity of CD’s experiments; see Cross and self-fertilisation, pp. 16–18]. Discusses FG’s comments, his own experiments, and the means by which the results may be analysed.

Sends packets of seeds of peas of different sizes [i.e., weights] for CD’s experiments; identifies size of the seeds that produced them. FG is experimenting "in the same direction" and is curious how his results will compare with CD’s.

Sends signed enclosure.

FG will hear of germination of peas in a few days.

Gives another instance of curious habit in the Butler family.