CD’s suspicions that Legrain falsified experiments on interbred rabbits are like second sight. Has sent a copy of the letter to A. H. Huth.

Henry Sidgwick and A. J. Balfour are "spiritualising" again.

Doubts ostrich descended from reptiles. Its ancestors true birds. Of course, all birds descended from reptiles. Compares foetus of birds to that of reptiles.

Acknowledges presentation copy of Insectivorous plants.

Studying Drosera on vacation in Bohemia. Thinks CD has erred in considering "aggregation" to have occurred in the protoplasm. Suggests it is result of exosmosis of vacuole.

Errata in first edition of Insectivorous plants.

"The moth is rightly named Ophideres Fullonica." Gives its range, family, allied European and British species, etc.

The two volumes of Variation [2d ed.] are unequal in size. Can CD reduce vol. 2 and increase vol. 1?

Does CD wish to publish Climbing plants [2d ed.] at once?

R. Cooke has complained about the size of paper on which proofs are printed. He does not know that CD requested a larger size. Asks CD what should be done.

Clarifies his thoughts on "aggregation" in Drosera.

Apologises for the annoyance caused about the size of proof paper. Clears up misunderstanding. As for Climbing plants, RC thinks no less than 1500 copies of a book by CD should be printed.

Reports a competition between the air roots of two varieties of grapevines. The victor changed the flavour and shape of the loser’s fruit.

Sends copy of his "Address [to the department of anthropology", Rep. BAAS 45 (1875): 142–56].

Notes criticism of remark by Walter Bagehot dealing with extinction of barbarians [cited in Descent 1: 239].

Sends a copy of his book [The royal tiger of Bengal (1875)].

Tells CD of his many experiments on interarching vines, potato tubers, exudation of carbon dioxide from roots,

and the synchrony of the pulse and the step while walking.

Would like to meet CD.

Has observed a dun pony with black stripes.

Intends breeding native fowls and will happily furnish CD with any information he can.

Discusses the domestication of animals.

Since the new edition of Variation will be stereotyped, Murray’s will always have means to provide plates if they are wanted in America.

Explains their way of sending proofs for authors who want wide margins for corrections.

Thinks it better to keep Climbing plants for the annual trade sale.

Reports a hybrid ram and sow, the cuino of Mexico, which is very common and fertile.

RLT speculates on the "moral nature" of parental protection shown by humans and traces it back to its first occurrence in the animal world.

Proofs have come. It will be jolly coming down to Southampton.

Thanks for Thomas Belt’s Naturalist in Nicaragua [1874], which confirms some of his observations,

and for Insectivorous plants, which he praises.

Suggests that a book integrating knowledge of plant–animal interactions be written by a Darwinist.

Defines biology as the science of external interactions.

German reception is far more positive than Italian.

Thanks CD for telling her "such exact truth". She saw Thomas Carlyle at Keston – the country air has done him good – "he is half sorry to have been so unsociable on his first arrival".