About the distribution of [surplus income] funds among the children.

FD and CD have been interested in AdeC’s diagram for illustrating inheritance. The difficulty of estimating different qualities in oneself and others is very great. Encloses a diagram illustrating how FD compares himself with his parents. CD has filled in a comparison with his father. It shows he resembles his father more than FD resembles CD. [The qualities compared are: stature, hair, eyes, pulse, musical capacity, ability to draw, tendency toward biological sciences, tendency toward mathematical sciences, perseverence, memory, aptitude for foreign languages.]

CD thanks him for his congratulations and for details of letters, which he will keep with the Butlerian documents.

FD is happy for his lecture to be republished in Kosmos.

Copies of FD’s paper have arrived ["The theory of growth", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 18 (1881): 406–19]. Does he want them dispatched?

News from the laboratory at Strasbourg; is working on Equisetum roots. Wortmann has found circumnutation in the mycelium of a fast-growing fungus. Please send papers (see 13155).

Some papers have arrived for FD.

Comments on the work of Phillipe van Tieghem who evidently knows nothing of insectivorous plants.

Leslie Stephen’s visit to Down went off well.

Is sorry to have involved himself in a priority dispute between Wortmann and Elfving. Intends to publish on circumnutation; will CD send him his notes? Apologises for taking CD’s protractor, will send it back. Has met Oscar Schmidt.

Thanks FD for his excellent corrections [to MS of Earthworms].

Is sending chapter [of Earthworms] for FD to look over.

Comments on FD’s work on movements of mould.

Is glad to hear about Julius von Sachs and the circumnutation theory.

Would like some of his notes. Has been looking at roots of Linum, cucurbits, larch, and orchids. Is content that mother should teach Bernard whatever religion she likes.

Sends further chapters of Earthworms for correction.

Dispatches chapters six and seven [of Earthworms].

Asks for any opinions on V. Hensen and his book, Physiologie der Zeugung [1881], which seems interesting.

Thanks FD for corrections [for Earthworms].

Discusses experiments on absorption in Drosera.

CD looks forward with dread to future as he does not have the strength to begin any new subject requiring much work.

Plans to look again at the absorption by roots and root-hairs.

Encloses letter from Elfving (not found). Should he publish on false circumnutation?

Has taken almost all FD’s corrections for chapter six [of Earthworms]. Is glad FD approves of the book.

Has accepted FD’s correction to chapter seven [of Earthworms].

Weather is bad; sky like lead and the lake as black as ink.

Describes seeds sent by George Payne [see 13205]. Is surprised that they bury themselves.

Glad CD approves of diaheliotropic paper. Reports on experiments with Carex and Yucca. Discusses translation of ‘Växtbook’ from Swedish. Heard some excellent music the previous night.

Passes on an account from Cohen of preparations by Hahn of fossil coral-like structures.