Wasps’ nest has arrived.

Gives his view of how queen wasp builds a hexagonal cell by straightening walls between several cells, which she builds at the same time.

Reports on the behaviour of the Peruvian cow bird, Molothrus, which lays its eggs in other birds’ nests.

Sends CD a circular [missing] and asks whether he will add his name to group [Anti-Aggression League].

Although he agrees with the object of HS’s league he will not join until he has seen how it works.

Clarifies some details of CD’s new will.

Asks CD for a testimonial as he is a candidate for Chair in Zoology at Oxford.

Gives his high opinion of HNM’s abilities.

WMH’s agent taking will to Down for CD to sign.

Ludwig Büchner is in London. Requests interview for him with CD on Wednesday or Thursday; he leaves Friday.

Finds it difficult to reconcile evolution with Mosaic record, but thinks it does not necessarily involve "infidel" principles.

Asks "How life born of an egg, can evolve life born of a mammal?"

Thanks HTS for a Dahlia flower, but analogous cases of such "bud-variation" have been observed before.

Comments on CVR’s paper [‘Further notes on the pollination of Yucca and on Pronuba and Prodoxus’, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. (1880): 617–39]. ‘What an inaccurate man Mr Thomas Meehan is.’ Interested in further observations on Pronuba.

Writes, as a former correspondent, asking CD for a testimonial.

Knows nothing of AGM’s work and is not personally acquainted with him so he cannot provide a testimonial.

Gives further details on his grapes.

Tells of his recent movements and state of health.

Thanks CD for his reply and, in attempting to clarify his question [see 13358], asks: "how could the first mammal species be nourished, if its immediate progenitor was non-mammal?"

BJS’s grape case is a mystery.

CD is still able to work a little but does not expect to do much more of any interest to naturalists.

The death of his brother [E. A. Darwin] was a heavy loss.

Has found the missing packet of forks, which he will send or take to Down.

Discusses insect attraction to artificial flowers. CD’s experiments of 40 years ago failed, but Nägeli reported success by scenting them.

No summary available.