Sees abortion as a refinement of infanticide; all such practices originate in female infanticide. Herbert Spencer’s over-speculation.

Thanks for Forms of flowers.

In his Monographiae phanerogamarum [vol. 1 (1878)] he discusses transitional forms of dioecism in three genera of Smilax.

Criticises CD’s use of the words "purpose" and "end", but acknowledges that in English they can mean both cause and effect.

Statement of U. S. sales of CD’s works.

Thanks CD for permission to quote his comments; mentions some of his conclusions with regard to the early speech of children.

Thanks for [newspaper] account of American Philological Association meeting.

Sends paper on Greek plants.

Praises unbroken series of CD’s and Francis [Darwin]’s botanical works.

Confirms FD’s Dipsacus observations. Problem of interpreting microscopic filaments as protoplasm or as inorganic and osmotic artifacts.

Information on plants requested by CD.

Accepts CD’s offer to publish his letter, confirming Francis Darwin’s observations [see Collected papers 2: 205–7].

H. Hoffmann’s observations on Amanita contractile filaments must be repeated.

Microscopic examination of secretory gland filaments in Dipsacus leafcups. FD’s pseudopod theory of Dipsacus.

Believes in differentiated nerve-tracts [in Medusa] because of experiment in which contractile waves blocked. [See GJR’s "Evolution of nerves", Nature 16 (1877): 231–3, 269–71, 289–93.] Did not know author of MS was Miss Lawless. Describes experiment on contractile waves in Aurelia. Also studying starfish.

Encloses specimens of milk-weed with trapped insects. Indian hemp catches insects in the same way but with less success.

Thanks for CD’s comments on ["Evolution of nerves"]. Admits that he may have "been too keen in my scent after nerves".

Notes effect of reversing direction of current in muscular tissue.

Thanks for Francis Darwin’s Dipsacus paper.

Dislikes the word "protoplasm", because improved microscopes will uncover more fundamental substances. Also "plasma" merely hides the ignorance of modern chemists.

Expects waxy, glaucous-leaved plants to be most frequent in dry temperate climates.

Electrotypes of woodcuts [of Forms of flowers] are ready for Koch [of Schweizerbart]. Murray has printed 1250 copies, instead of 1000 as planned.

Thanks for Forms of flowers.

Suggests plant hairs protect them from insects either mechanically or by stinging.

CD’s curious observations on Trifolium resupinatum.

Describes a Maranta remarkable for its leaf asymmetry: its leaves are elliptical on one side and oblong on the other.

Counted 40 worm-holes after rain; four or five in the wall.

Sends a published diary [Das Kind, 2d ed. (1876)] in which he recorded the early growth of his first child. Hopes it may find an English translator.

Observations on movements of leaves of Erythrina crista-galli in green-house and out of doors.

Sleep movements of Averrhoa bilimbi leaves.

Sleep movements of Averrhoa bilimbi.