Shares RM’s misgivings about Fritz Müller’s mutually protecting mimics. Would expect bird’s response to distasteful caterpillars to be instinctive. Believes J. J. Weir or Thomas Belt may have investigated the point.

Thanks for a copy of Theorie der Gärung.

Thinks there is no particular interest in the abnormality in question.

Also CD has looked at several flowers and believes WDC may be mistaken in believing there is a rudimentary anther cell.

Movement in plants: Philodendron and Dendrobium.

Will go to London on Thursday to receive Baly Medal. Laura Forster has offered them her house in London.

Comments in jocular vein on GHD’s "Darwin discoveries" about their ancestors.

Emma says CD needs a change and rest.

Thanks her for loan of her house [Abinger Hammer].

Movement of radicles.

Suggests experiments to test the response of radicles to light. Considers an alternative term for heliotropism.

Will be curious to have FD’s spiral theory about circumnutation explained to him.

Believes that the response of root tips to being "blinded" with foil is much more interesting than response to cauterisation.

Wishes to call on THF to discuss the situation with regard to Horace Darwin [who wishes to marry THF’s daughter, Emma Cecilia (Ida)].

Sir Robert Christison says Dr Darwin not the first to recommend alcohol for fever.

Thanks JP for his kindness, but unfortunately the [unspecified] case is of no use to him.

Discusses the movements of radicles. His observations show that sensitivity to touch resides in the root tip and he believes that sensitivity to gravity governing geotropic responses is also in the root tip. Would much like to convert Julius von Sachs to his ideas on radicle movement.

Has failed with his experiments on aerial roots.

Sends his autograph to HR for the Galerie internationale [1880].

Thanks GBNH for a fact about CD’s grandfather [Erasmus Darwin], but he will not be able to use it in his brief notice.

FD’s experiment shows that caustic does not interfere with the bending of radicles. Believes that the apex is a kind of brain for certain movements, being specialised to receive certain irritations.

Stresses importance of ensuring that cauterisation of radicles does not, through injury, prevent movement. Plans an experiment to test for "apheliotropism" in certain radicles.

CD gives suggestions concerning FD’s experiments on the radicles of roots. Asks him to find out whether J. von Sachs tried beans. Should also try other gramineous plants.

Bernard looking forward to his father’s return.

Francis wants a copy of a book on "Shakespeare’s merry tales" to present to a friend in Würzburg.