Will follow EF’s suggestions as to securing purity of fibrin.

Has sent CD some pure distilled water for his Drosera experiments.

Is sending washings of 445 leaves in EF’s distilled water with 20 grains of carbonate of soda. Details of the difficulties and complications involved.

Requests a piece of the most sensitive litmus paper in order to test the secretions of minute hairs of plants which catch minute flies. [See 9098.]

The results of EF’s tests for acids in the secretion of Drosera are largely negative [see Insectivorous plants, p. 88].

Finds the negative information sent by EF of great interest [see 9094].

More on his own experiments and the perplexing results when using the sensitive litmus paper.

Sends some litmus paper for CD.

Apologises for his ignorance in interpreting the results secured in his testing with blue litmus paper.

Requests permission to call upon EF either Friday or Saturday morning [14 or 15 November].

Requests EF’s vote and support in favour of Henry Parker for membership in the Athenaeum.

Finding that the leaves of Drosera digest all the phosphate of lime out of bones and then remain clasped over the bones for a long time, CD wants to determine whether it is the phosphate of lime or the animal matter in the bones that keeps them clasped. He asks EF to send 2 or 3 grams of pure phosphate of lime for his testing. [See 9411.] Will experiment in the summer using EF’s suggestion that leaves might serve to test weak sewage. Results of Sanderson’s experiments with acids of great use.

Sends some phosphates of lime free of animal matter [see Insectivorous plants, p. 109].

Thanks for the pure phosphate of lime.

Requests permission to call briefly to discuss Drosera.

Bullfinches’ instinctive capacity for removing nectaries from cowslips.

Thanks for letter relating to domesticated bullfinches’ instinctively cutting off cowslips [see 9430]. Suggests observing whether the birds swallow any part of flower or particular parts.

Variation in bullfinches’ instinctive ability to remove nectaries and ovaries from cowslips.

Requests sewage water (and oleic acid) for experiments to determine sensitivity of leaves [of Drosera].

Thanks for the sewage water and the oleic acid. The former does not seem to act.

Asks for the specific gravity of common phosphate of ammonia.