Suggests GHD write a supplement to his review [of A. H. Huth’s The marriage of near kin (1875)]. Feels sorry Huth was taken in by the Legrain fraud. [See Autobiography (1958), pp. 143–4.]

Orders Andrew Knight’s paper ["An account of some experiments on the fecundation of vegetables", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. (1799): 195–204] and J. E. Gray’s book [Gleanings from the menagerie and aviary at Knowsley Hall (1846)].

Obliged for his memoir ["On the avifauna of the Galapagos", Trans. Zool. Soc. (April 1875)]. His surprise that the birds from the different islands prove so similar. Comparison of the habits, nests, eggs of the commonest species of each island would throw a flood of light upon variation.

Thanks for articles about moths sucking oranges.

Sends a moth from Queensland, Australia. The sender says a large number have been caught with proboscises embedded in oranges. CD interested as having a bearing on his Orchis work. Can AGB name the family and any closely allied English genus? The proboscis seems an extraordinary structure [see F. Darwin, "On the structure of the proboscis of Ophideres fullonica", Q. J. Microsc. Sci. n.s. 15 (1875): 384–9].

Responds to FJC’s criticism regarding "aggregation" as it occurs in protoplasm [see 10131].

Explains that the plant is not consuming the flies, but that they die becasue they get stuck in the flowers when fertilising them.

On publishing details of Variation [2d ed.].

CD mortified and annoyed to hear that RC has complained to Messrs Clowes of the extra expense because proofs for Climbing plants were put on wider paper at CD’s request.

Has read RF’s pamphlet on New Zealand [Remarks on New Zealand (1846)]. Sympathises with his difficulties as Governor.

Cannot believe in possibility that the duck is a hybrid, but correlation accords with some other facts.

Requests specimens of berries and more information about the Madresfield Court vine.

Regrets he will not return home in time to see WDW.

Thanks JF for his book.

At present has no observations he wishes made in India.

Thanks RC for his kind note. It was only Climbing plants for which he wanted the proofs to have wide margins. Wishes he understood more about printing. It would be a great convenience to authors if exterior margins of proofs were broad.

Will be in London tomorrow and will try to pop over to Kew.

Thanks for GR’s "Address" [see 10141].

Wishes he had not quoted Bagehot’s remark [in Descent 1: 239] about decrease in savage populations. Interest in subject.

Further discussion of the process of aggregation in response to [10137].

CD gives a few instances of various animals (starfish, earwigs, spiders) that take charge of their young.

Sends comments and suggestions for Huth’s experiment on crossbreeding rabbits.

Requesting two books, Lafitau 1724 and Tanner 1830.

Thanks SN for his explanation of vines.

Discusses SN’s observation on roots secreting carbonic acid.