Comments on WM’s paper about ostrich feathers.

Hearty thanks for the two bottles of pure water.

Wants seeds of Nesaea verticillata for crossing experiments to see whether seedlings from "illegitimate unions" are sterile like true hybrids.

Thanks for the seventh of CVR’s Annual reports on the noxious, beneficial and other insects in the state of Missouri (Riley 1869–77).

Asks permission to republish his climbing plants paper [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 9 (1867): 1–118] in a corrected form [Climbing plants].

Thanks for the diploma conferring on him an honorary doctorate of medicine from Leiden University.

CD’s observations on the power of movement and transmission of motor impulses in plants. If RLT succeeds with the tails of mice, it will be "a beautiful little discovery"; CD will enjoy it the more "because some German sneered at natural selection and instanced the tail of the mouse" [see 10013].

Is very grateful for the gift of a fender-stool. Will send her a copy of Insectivorous plants.

Has found that H. G. Bronn in the chapter appended to his translation of Origin cited ears and tail of mice as facts opposed to natural selection. Suggests RLT examine hairs of tails of mice for possible nerves.

CD is convinced by the conclusions of Malthus.

RLT’s observations come too late, as CD’s book on Droseraceae has been printed.

Reports on his observations of ferment in secretions in Drosera rotundifolia and Drosophyllum.

Thanks FS for his book [Kant und Darwin].

Sends regards to Haeckel.

RLT will find abundant evidence of absorption by Aldrovanda in CD’s forthcoming book [Insectivorous plants]. Congratulates him on his discovery of ferments.

Sends clean sheets of Insectivorous plants. JVC will now be able to judge whether it is worth translating. The book has wearied him and cost much labour.

Informs RLT of J. D. Hooker’s work on Nepenthes ["Nepenthaceae, Cytinaceae", in Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis by A. P. de Candolle (1873), 17: 90–116].

Has asked JDH to try secretions of pitchers that had caught no insects.

Has come to Abinger Hall for a rest after Insectivorous plants, soon to appear. Is sick of the accursed subject.

Rejoices at [Thiselton-Dyer’s] appointment.

Gives a report on a paper by Thomas Powell on coral islands ["Notes on the nature and productions of several atolls of the Tokelan, Ellice, and Gilbert Groups, South Pacific", read 15 Apr 1875, not published].

Insectivorous plants ready for publication. Asks price. Suggests advertisements in Nature and Gardeners’ Chronicle.

Is staying at a friend’s [T. H. Farrer’s] house for rest until after 6 July, so cannot see CVR at Down.

Hopes he thanked CVR for the last Report [one of CVR’s Annual reports on the noxious, beneficial and other insects of the State of Missouri (1868–76)].