Wants Monochaetum flowers for examination as he has forgotten the structure and cannot publish until he has repeated his observations and experiments.
Asks whether blue eyes are peculiar to the human species.
Thanks for Monochaetum flowers; his old notes have now become intelligible.
CD is familiar with EJL’s work [on Asplenium movements]; finds Asplenium an unusual case.
Swedish anti-vivisectionists are claiming CD is opposed to animal experiments; Holmgren wishes CD to state his position.
About Francis Darwin’s application for election to [Royal] Society.
Asks for quick decision on publication [of Earthworms]. Does not care whether it is published on commission or on usual terms, but wants it published in a hurry. Cannot guess at sales.
Sends GdeS and A. F. Marion, L’évolution du règne végétal. Les cryptogames [1881].
Murray’s will be happy to publish [Earthworms] on usual terms of two-thirds profits.
Earthworm book with printer.
Has sent FM’s observations on paraheliotropism to Nature ["Movement of leaves", Collected papers 2: 228–9].
Plants with differently coloured anthers.
Intends gathering together his notes on "bloom".
Agrees that new book [Earthworms] be published on old terms. Hopes it will not fail.
CD is curious to read an essay on evolution by a Hindu, which is being sent to Murray from India.
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.
Sends his last report on Russian wheat varieties [Gard. Chron. n.s. 15 (1881): 430–2].
Considers which part of grass embryo is the cotyledon.
Summarises a letter from Fritz Müller [missing] giving details of leaf movement in Mucuna, Desmodium, and Bauhinia. CD is especially interested in the paraheliotropic movements, which appear to be as common as sleep movements.
Discusses concept of intelligence in his Earthworms manuscript.
Remarks on GJR’s work on echinoderms.
Comments on Wilhelm Roux [Der Kampf der Theile im Organismus (1881)].
Discusses animal instincts, citing Fabre’s description of sand-wasps.
Suggests that the pappus of Compositae, when lying on ground, may absorb water which may function in seed germination.
Sends pamphlet showing that magnetism is the fundamental element by which all is created and maintained.
Obliged for extract from Gardeners’ Chronicle about Russian wheat. "It is a capital instance of one var. gradually beating out another."
Cannot remember where he put G. Henslow’s note [on the cotyledon of grass embryos].
Is mapping coral distribution on the Tortugas reef. His observations on the Florida peninsula suggest that it was built up from the debris of animal remains and was not elevated.
Looks forward to reading CD’s Earthworms.
Agrees that habits of sand-wasp are determined by natural selection.
Experiment of exposing plants to flashing light gives uncertain result.