WED encloses a letter from H. M. Wilkinson about Utricularia and sundew.

H. M. Wilkinson has examined bladders of Utricularia; doubts that they absorb or digest insects.

H. M. Wilkinson describes dragonfly trapped by sundew [Drosera].

Asks for a specimen of Pinguicula.

Has some Utricularia minor for CD. Has found the bladders on U. vulgaris are not floats.

Thanks CD for book [Descent, 2d ed.].

Sends reference on Pinguicula [for CD].

Has "given the slip" to Nepenthes, but is setting a plant up in an enclosure for special observation.

Has some splendid Sarracenia and will perform any miracle regarding them CD puts him up to.

Charmed with CD’s account of Pinguicula. Would like to try whether Lychnis has the same use of viscid fluid.

Has written for English Utricularia for CD.

Sends further details on Pinguicula reference.

Thinks Frank and he have worked out Pinguicula well and they long to attack Utricularia. Tried several plants with sticky glandular hairs; some few absorb ammonia, but the greater number do not. If JDH sends plant or seed of Lychnis CD will examine it to see whether it catches many flies. Asa Gray has written him much about Sarracenia, with a specimen showing the splendid dodge by which ground insects are enticed up and then drowned. Describes how it may be investigated, to see whether it absorbs decayed matter from flies, or ammonia thus generated.

Sends results of his observations on Nepenthes. Would be grateful for any hints for further observations.

It would be interesting to prove that some plants feed on decayed animal matter whilst others like Drosera can digest fresh animal matter. Suggests the method for observing this.

Suggests experiment involving cobra poison on white corpuscles. Thanks for offer of Crotalus poison.

Will do experiments CD suggests.

Is sending his book on the poisonous snakes of India [The Thanatophidia of India (1872)].

Information about insects on Pinguicula leaves.

Asks about the effect of atropine on the eye. Is interested in parallel case: influence of phosphate of ammonia on glands of Drosera.

Thanks for proofs [of Descent, 2d English ed.].

Publisher would like better photographs for Expression [2d German ed.].

The appetite of Nepenthes for hard-boiled egg is prodigious.

Sends quotation from R. C. Virchow which contravenes CD’s statement in Expression that there is no voluntary control of the iris.

Sends specimens of Pinguicula and observations made on them. [See Insectivorous plants, pp. 390–1.]

Sends an Utricularia and a Drosophyllum.

Observations on Pinguicula grandiflora. [See Insectivorous plants, p. 390.]

Reports results [partly excised] of examination of fibro-cartilage subjected to artificial gastric juice and to Drosera secretion. [See Insectivorous plants, pp. 104–5.]

Sets out some of his ideas on the effects of disuse on an organ. Disuse as a cause of reduction.