Asks whether the twins WO reported to CD [see 5470] were named Macrae. F. Galton has told him of a similar case with twins so named who inherited crooked little fingers from the maternal side [see Variation, 2d ed., 2: 240]. [The twins referred to by WO were actually his sisters, see 10170.]

From Galton’s "twin study" he suspects that some progenitor of WO’s had the peculiarities in question.

Has collected cases of signs of assent for a revised edition of Expression.

Suggests bees visit same species because they know how far to insert proboscis and thus save time.

Would like to cite WO’s case of bees perforating white but not blue monkshood (Aconitum napellus) in his next book [Cross and self-fertilisation, pp. 427–8]. Believes it is probably sterile if insects are excluded.

Is glad WO is undertaking the editing of Anton Kerner’s book [Schutzmittel der Blüthen gegen unberufene Gäste (1876)], which appears to open out "highly original & curious fields of research". [Used as prefatory letter to Kerner, Flowers and their unbidden guests, The translation revised and edited by W. Ogle (1878).]

Thanks for his translation of [Anton] Kerner [Flowers and their unbidden guests: the translation revised and edited by W. Ogle (1878)].

Thanks WO for advice and assistance for his son, Horace.

Has read Kerner’s book [see 11666]; finds the translation "as clear as daylight" but fears it is too good for the English public who like "very washy food".

Thanks WO for copying and translating [unspecified] passages. CD knew nothing about them, but doubts they are of real use. Passage about summer solstice may indicate something new.

Thanks WO for gift of his translation [Aristotle’s De partibus animalium]. Suspects the introduction would interest him more than the text "notwithstanding that he [Aristotle] was such a wonderful old fellow".

Has rarely read anything more interesting than WO’s introduction to his Aristotle translation. Had no notion what a wonderful man Aristotle was. Linnaeus and Cuvier were mere schoolboys compared to him. His ignorance on some points, as on muscles and the means of movement, is curious.

Thanks WO for information on inheritance of deficient phalanges [Variation 2:73] and for interesting case of the occurrence of anomalous fingers and teeth in twins[Variation 2: 253].

Wishes he had known of the views of Hippocrates, which are almost identical to his Pangenesis hypothesis. CD advances it as provisional, but secretly expects some such view will have to be admitted.

Comments on WO’s paper on Salvia [Pop. Sci. Rev. 8 (1869): 261–73], which he admires.

Has read WO’s paper [see 7361] with great interest. If WO’s views are confirmed he will be able to explain many odd little details about the colouring of animals.

Can WO observe if the platysma myoides is brought into strong action in people suffering from severe dyspnoea?

Thanks WO for information on platysma, which he did not know could be brought into voluntary action. Is coming to believe it has nothing to do with expression.

On the relation between white colouring and susceptibility to poisonous plants, CD suggests WO send his paper to J. Wyman and propose he investigate whether white as well as black pigs will eat paint-root.

Thanks WO for valuable letter. Feels he need not trouble any more about platysma. If WO ever sees someone suffering great fear, CD asks him to observe the neck.

Hopes to visit WO when next in London.

Will write again to Tyndall about odours.

Asks for the circumstances under which WO saw a man arrested for murder; quotes from notes he made from WO’s conversation [Expression, p. 294].

Also would like to quote WO on the expression of resignation by persons about to undergo serious operations [Expression, p. 271].

Thanks WO for his replies [to 7551]. Discusses the open mouth in surprise; asks WO to investigate its function in hearing and breathing.

Asks why deaf persons generally keep mouths open.

Agrees that in a deaf person the jaw may fall because of concentrated attention.

In surprise, mouth is opened suddenly and chest filled with air. This expression occurs in all parts of the world. Odd that so simple a movement is so perplexing to understand.

Asks WO to act out the sudden discovery of a dreadful object and to observe whether his platysma contracts. CD has found in his notes that it is never contracted in cases of severe dyspnoea [Expression, p. 301].

Thanks WO for his reply to letter of 26 March. Has tried several people and platysma seemed to act, but it is difficult to observe when they shudder.