CD has not received the proofs [of JT’s Belfast address to BAAS].

Wishes JT were through with Belfast [meeting of BAAS, 1874]. CD cannot imagine surviving such a week of excitement.

Returns proofs [of JT’s Belfast address, Rep. BAAS 44 (1874): lxvi–xcvii]. Gratified by what it says about his work and is anxious to read the whole address; it is a grand subject.

States his indebtedness to and admiration for Humboldt and his work.

It is splendid how Nepenthes is behaving. Drosera and Dionaea are insignificant by comparison.

Takes rather a malicious pleasure in JDH’s failure with Cephalotus as a match to his with Utricularia.

Glad to hear about sticky fluid on leaves. WCM need not bother to count leaves.

Lady Dorothy Nevill has no Dionaea.

CD anxious to talk with JDH about Utricularia.

Describes his observations on Utricularia montana.

Asks JDH to cut a bit of root from old Utricularia and bring it with him to Down.

Thanks for sending papers by Hermann Hoffmann.

Discusses spiral cells in Drosera and Pinguicula.

Comments on digestive action of pepsin and hydrochloric acid.

Photograph of Rubens’ picture has not arrived.

JL’s two articles in Nature ["Common wild flowers", 10 (1874): 402–6, 422–6].

Cautions against C. K. Sprengel’s notion of bees’ being deceived by nectarless nectary.

Colour of calyces.

Returns copy of Botanische Zeitung.

Responds to comments on Drosera.

Queries about species of Utricularia.

The Aldrovanda has arrived. Has examined the leaves. It is an aquatic Dionaea which has acquired some structures identical to those of Utricularia!

Thanks JDH for extract on Hedychium pollination; it shows CD’s prior interpretation was incorrect.

Asks JDH for leaves of Byblis and Roridula to examine, and D. Oliver for an anomalous species of Utricularia.

Doubts whether sudden and great variations often occur.

Comments on colours of flowers.

CD responds [to 9667] with description of his own effort to study Aldrovanda and his observations on the structure of Dionaea.

His admiration for FJC’s earlier studies of the Venus’s fly-trap.

He urges FJC to proceed promptly with publication of his memoir on Aldrovanda [Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen 1, Heft 3 (1875): 71–92].

Thanks WHMC and the Astronomer Royal for informing him of the safe arrival of the Merope [Leonard Darwin’s ship] at New Zealand. [See 9677.]

Advice to GHD on whether to accept invitation to lecture at the Royal Institution.

Murray has sent the Quarterly Review issue. CD has told Murray that he is convinced Mivart is the author and what he thinks of him.