Mr Ford is attending to CD’s drawings [for Descent].

Death of AG’s wife.

Time of his arrival.

Will bring bark story with him.

Thanks for a paper on phyllotaxy.

Replies to CD’s queries on sexual habits and differences in fish and lizards.

Will do his best on the tooth [sent by CD] but does not put much weight on conclusions based on a single tooth of a horse.

Darwin attacked by three clergymen at BAAS meeting [Exeter, 1869].

Reports on the differences of growth and development of plants of three species grown at Geneva from seed collected at different localities. Forwards seed for CD to plant and observe differences in development.

Carl Linsseer has published a memoir on the times of flowering, foliation, etc. of diverse species in different parts of Europe [Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg 7th ser. 11 no. 7 (1868)] and concludes that the northern forms are more forward and that this is hereditary. AdeC’s experiments carried out on annuals, show only the effects of heredity; probably the direct action of physical conditions affects development, at least in perennial species.

Thanks CD for assistance concerning sponge specimens. Mentions Englishmen who have sent specimens. J. S. Bowerbank has not answered requests.

Sends articles dealing with sponges and Medusae. Cites passages for CD to read. Suggests passages from Entwicklungsgeschichte der Siphonophoren [1869].

Describes meeting with Sars and his trip to Norway.

Asks CD to send 5th ed. of Origin so Mlle Royer can use it in her work. Regret they have upset CD to the extent that he would reproach them so untowardly.

On endemic flora and fauna of Portugal.