CD gives his opinion on vivisection with the understanding that the whole letter will be published. Worked for Act of Parliament, but disapproves of the one passed. CD convinced English physiologists do not perform cruel experiments.
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CD gives his opinion on vivisection with the understanding that the whole letter will be published. Worked for Act of Parliament, but disapproves of the one passed. CD convinced English physiologists do not perform cruel experiments.
Will GHD ask Lord R[ayleigh] whether "gas-men in testing light, exclude the diffused light".
Thanks AA for letter on coral reefs. "I used to think … that areas of elevation and of subsidence must – as a general rule be separated by a single great line of fissure, or rather of several".
Suggests that AA urge again his views on reappearance of old characters.
T. H. Farrer and James Caird express great interest in JT’s report. Have instructed CD to hold £90 for use by JT in spring. Caird asks that potatoes be sent to his gardener for trials.
Thanks WED for some earthworm observations.
Discusses investments.
Covering letter to enclose a memorial [petitioning for a civil list pension for Wallace].
Good news from Gladstone [concerning pension for Wallace]. Duke of Argyll’s private note greatly influenced Gladstone.
Has heard that Gladstone will recommend A. R. [Wallace] for a pension. Thanks the Duke for having written to Gladstone on the matter.
Letter of introduction for Montagu Lubbock.
Discusses earthworm activity
and animal grazing on slopes.
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.
[Ernst Krause’s] letter to Nature ["Unconscious memory – Mr Samuel Butler", 23 (1881): 288] has been dispatched.
Gladstone has dated Wallace’s pension from last July, "which is splendid".
Glad WB has arrived in Brazil. Suggests study of insects and study of fertilisation in Melastomataceae. Want of books is not a serious evil.
Writes of WED’s certificate for the Geological Society
and discusses various instances of earthworm activity.
Discusses investments,
earthworms,
and an article by Romanes [see 13029].
Discusses some business matters
and E. A. Darwin’s health.
Discusses earthworms and their ability to perceive narrowest points of leaves to draw them into their burrows.
Discusses investments.
The action of worms when drawing leaves into their burrows.
Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.
Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".
Island life continues to stimulate: Wallace ignores effects of glaciers on alpine flora and generally exaggerates those of débâcles and wind dispersal. CD encourages JDH to prepare a geographical address including history of geographical distribution.