Thanks for JSBS’s essays; wishes he had said something on Lister’s observations. Speculates on the fungoid nature of smallpox and why there is seldom re-infection.

Discusses digestion by Drosera, the action of its secretion being the same as that of gastric juice.

Thanks AWB for review in Nature [probably review of Insectivorous plants, 12 (1875): 206–9, 228–31].

Asks about FH’s research on maize. Suggests experiments.

Thanks for KLR’s latest work (Rütimeyer 1875).

Comments on GJR’s experiments.

Is obliged to be given a second and improved edition of GKMvS’s excellent lectures.

CD returns MS of a paper by RLT. "If you have succeeded in separating the ferment, the fact is manifestly important." Asks whether RLT tested the digestive ability of fluid from pitchers without animal matter. This would be necessary to prove that there was ferment in the fluid. CD is glad to hear about the [passage?] for guiding insects; he had guessed this to be the case.

Acknowledges his election to the Akademie.

Would be obliged for correction of references in Variation [1st ed.].

Glad to hear that ARW is so busy.

CD believes that he has thrown some light on the acquirement of the power of digestion in Droseraceae [in Insectivorous plants].

Solicits JDH and others at Kew for signatures to nomination of Francis Darwin for membership of Linnean Society.

Has previously quoted details concerning the regrowth of her amputated extra digit in Variation [2: 14–15]. The case has since been disputed, so CD, who is revising his work, asks for some fuller details.

Asks HAH to keep Francis Darwin’s nomination paper [for Linnean Society] for Huxley to sign on return. FD appends personal note.

Apologises that he cannot supply any maize seed.

Thanks AD for her account [of the regrowth of her sister’s amputated supernumerary finger]. Is much perplexed what to conclude. Feels he should either retract his account [in Variation, 1st ed., 2: 14–15] or substantiate it by judgment of a physiologist like James Paget. Asks for tracings of her sister’s hand. [See Variation, 2d ed., 1: 459].

CD sends his thanks for her intercession with her sister [Alice Chambers]. The extract from her father’s [Robert Chambers] diary will be sufficient.

He forwards the requested autograph.

Is preparing new edition of Variation and has a query on speed of racehorses.

Apologises for keeping the tables so long [see 10090]. The results seem extremely curious.

Comments on paper by JHG and J. B. Lawes.

Thanks for a copy of Suess 1875.

Thanks for answer to racehorse query;

would be grateful for correction of any errors in Variation.