Returns the two books JHG had lent him. "I can plainly see I had better say nothing about the acidity of common mould."

Thanks HdS for pebbles of Roman bricks. When he goes over MS [Earthworms] again, he will compare smoother ones with those having undergone attrition in gizzards of worms.

Has received book [La question du lac] sent by HdS.

Also sends photograph taken by Leonard Darwin of CD.

Requests photograph of HdS to add to his collection.

FM’s view on meaning of two-coloured stamens in many flowers; CD has been looking through his old notes on dimorphism for supporting evidence. Intends to send extract of FM’s letter to Nature or to Linnean Society.

Thanks for BJS’s account of the Fuegians. CD would have predicted that "not all the missionaries in the world could have done what has been done".

Will proof-read his preface to Weismann’s Studien.

Wants plants with two sets of anthers of different colours. Fritz Müller letter [13041a] has made him wish to renew experiments and observations carried out 20 years ago.

Comments on HMW’s discovery concerning growth of hair on human ears. Asks permission to publish fact.

Thanks JVC for corrections of Movement in plants. Sends a clarifying sentence.

Earthworms nearly done – "a small book of little moment".

Reports his health is better than it was, "but I have little strength & feel very old".

Discusses difficulties involved in plant experiment designed to test Pangenesis.

Has received WBT’s fine work [Edward Blyth, The natural history of the cranes, enlarged and reprinted by WBT (1881)].

Thanks EBT for gift of Anthropology [1881].

Encourages HMW’s study of growth of hair on ears. Recommends he publish findings in Nature.

Comments on facts about goatsucker and dorkings.

Wishes the society and its publications every success.

Reports splendid cases of "paraheliotropism" which he now believes is one of the commonest movements of plants.

Wants Monochaetum flowers for examination as he has forgotten the structure and cannot publish until he has repeated his observations and experiments.

Thanks for Monochaetum flowers; his old notes have now become intelligible.

CD is familiar with EJL’s work [on Asplenium movements]; finds Asplenium an unusual case.

About Francis Darwin’s application for election to [Royal] Society.

Asks for quick decision on publication [of Earthworms]. Does not care whether it is published on commission or on usual terms, but wants it published in a hurry. Cannot guess at sales.

Earthworm book with printer.

Has sent FM’s observations on paraheliotropism to Nature ["Movement of leaves", Collected papers 2: 228–9].

Plants with differently coloured anthers.

Intends gathering together his notes on "bloom".