Delighted to hear of Frank Darwin’s discovery.

Seems hopeless to reason with people about vivisection.

Returns E. Haeckel’s Perigenesis [der Plastidule (1876)]. EH’s "plastidules" do not differ from Spencer’s "physiological units". Does not see that biology gains anything from EH’s theory.

No results yet with graft-hybrids.

Has been writing a paper.

"Lankester seems to have doubled up [H.] Slade [the medium] in fine style".

Sends MS notes on intercrossing.

Describes different reactions of rabbits and guinea-pigs to stinging nettles.

Has made a number of grafts at Kew.

Encloses notes on natural selection; discussion of factors mitigating the swamping influence of intercrossing on incipient variations.

Galton agrees with GJR about rudimentary organs.

GJR’s note referred to possibility of selection acting on organic types as distinguished from individuals.

Thinks Grant Allen has not made out his point [in Physiological aesthetics (1877)], but his fundamental principle probably has much truth.

Believes in differentiated nerve-tracts [in Medusa] because of experiment in which contractile waves blocked. [See GJR’s "Evolution of nerves", Nature 16 (1877): 231–3, 269–71, 289–93.] Did not know author of MS was Miss Lawless. Describes experiment on contractile waves in Aurelia. Also studying starfish.

Thanks for CD’s comments on ["Evolution of nerves"]. Admits that he may have "been too keen in my scent after nerves".

Notes effect of reversing direction of current in muscular tissue.

Thanks for letter. Values CD’s opinion more than that of anybody else.

Perfectly astonished at reception CD got among popular audiences at GJR’s lectures.

Thanks for letter of sympathy.

Would like to visit in May.

Thanks for permission to use CD’s observations on instinct. Would like to use CD’s MS chapter in preparing forthcoming book [Mental evolution in animals (1883)].

Thanks for permission to use CD’s MS chapter on instinct for forthcoming book.

GJR’s speech at Dublin [BAAS meeting] was an enormous success, with tremendous applause at mention of CD’s name at the finale.

Thanks for comments on his lecture ["Nervous system of Medusa"]

and for information [about J. R. L. Delboeuf, La psychologie (1876)].

Thanks for letter and book [J. R. L. Delboeuf, La psychologie (1876)].

Thinks conservation of energy not evidence for Deity. Agrees with CD that there is little hope to illuminate subject with light of intellect. Intends to drop it.

Sets out some of his ideas on the effects of disuse on an organ. Disuse as a cause of reduction.

Encloses a copy of a letter from H. Spencer giving his opinion on GJR’s views on disuse and a draft of GJR’s reply to Spencer.

Would like to see papers [on potato grafting] mentioned by CD.

CD has doubtless seen case in Gardeners’ Chronicle of vine in which scion has affected the stock [P. Grieve, "Singular sport upon a grape vine", Gard. Chron. (1875): 21].

Returns papers [unidentified].

One on inheritance destitute of meaning. How can "force" act without any material on which to act? Discussion must assume truth of some such theory as Pangenesis.

Agrees to propose GJR for membership in Royal Society.

Remarks on GJR’s paper on Medusae [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 167 (1877): 659–752].