The horns of castrated male lambs compared with horns of ewes. [See Descent, 2d ed., p. 506.]

Sends CD a German pamphlet, "War Goethe ein Darwinianer?"

Asks that the rabbits CD has kept be sent to him; will continue [transfusion] experiments on rats, but using larger [surgical] connection.

Sends back proofs. Praises CD for calm treatment of Mivart. Looks at duck’s mouth. Asks whether CD has seen Snow’s article in the Spectator.

Effect of turf covering on the disintegration of rocks. Weathering of rock; relative importance of different agents with different rocks.

Thanks for information on platycnemic tibiae found in America. Believes the condition is of two kinds as exemplified by Gibraltar and Cro-Magnon tibiae on one side and the Welsh form on the other. Would like to know which of the two forms the American bones are; their proportions suggest they are very like the Welsh tibiae.

Going to Down to see the "most curious" results.

Offers to provide information on the habits of the animals of northern New York and Canada.

CD is considering repeating experiments on melastomads in which different pollen sizes produced differing seedling sizes.

Responds to JDH’s query on differences in pollen within the same species.

Thanks CD for copies of the Origin and Cirripedia;

sends his latest publication in return [Beiträge zur Parthenogenesis der Arthropoden (1871)]. Discusses his work on parthenogenesis which, he believes, is a case of atavism.

W. Crookes’s article ["Enquiry into phenomena called spiritual", Q. J. Sci. n.s. 4 (1874): 77–97] "staggers" her. Would like to know CD’s opinion.

Much perplexed by W. Crookes’s article. He can neither disbelieve nor believe. Article has removed some of his difficulty in that the supposed power is not an anomaly. Hopes men such as G. G. Stokes will be induced to witness Crookes’s experiments.