Accedes to her [unspecified] request.

CD has harangued the Down Friendly Club. Does not think it will dissolve.

His specimen catalogue has not been returned from Cambridge museum. If not lost, will answer query.

Wants to know how to obtain The thoughts of Marcus Aurelius, mentioned in Descent [1: 106].

Comments on CD’s Cross and self-fertilisation: its usefulness to florists, and his solution of a long standing puzzle in showing the increase of monstrosities in self-fertilised plants.

Is unconvinced that correction in Cross and self-fertilisation requested by CD [see 10852] should be made. Asks CD to reconsider.

Encloses his translation of a draft letter from his friend Franz von Rekowsky [see 10855], who is German Consular Secretary at Messina.

Acknowledges receipt of a publication from a German author. Hopes that the German will not be too difficult to understand in an "important & abstruse" subject.

Reports a bluebell monster.

Response to Cross and self-fertilisation, reviewed in Spectator.

Thanks for work on Fossil arctic flora.

JDH reports on Frank’s reading of his Dipsacus paper at the Royal Society. Huxley slept through much of it, but JDH is well pleased with it.

Does not think the pistil behaved as JC described, except by mere accident.

CD counters Thiselton-Dyer’s objection to protoplasmic filaments of Dipsacus protruding beyond cell-wall, as Frank’s paper claims, by citing white "blood cells passing through vessels".

Has received Moseley’s collection of photographs.

Discusses spider specimens.

Thanks GBE for his essay on the placenta [Sull’unità del tipo anatomico della placenta nei mammiferi e nell’umana specie (1877)].

Apologises for sending wrong Cross and self-fertilisation erratum. The error is on p. 191 (where "cross-seeds" appears, it should read "self-fertilised"). There is no error on p. 275.

Asks EH to make a small correction in his translation [of Cross and self-fertilisation].

Has read in the newspapers about the album of photographs of German scientists sent in tribute to CD. His name and photograph are missing only because he was not asked to participate. CC assures CD he is one of his ardent supporters.

Thanks for Orchids [2d ed.].

Does not feel his abstract of Cross and self-fertilisation [Am. J. Sci. 3d ser. 13 (1877): 125–41] was thorough enough.

Has heard of their sad bereavement last autumn [death of Amy, wife of Francis Darwin].

Baillière wishes to bring out a French translation of Coral reefs; CD requests their co-operation.