Hive-bees captured in tubes of nectary of Tritoma. Seems a maladaptation of the bees.

About 150 copies remain of Forms of flowers.

Thanks CD for present of £300.

Speculates that the function of "bloom" is to prevent evaporation.

Raised CD’s question about the geographical distribution of glaucous plants at recent botanical meeting.

Thanks CD for acknowledging receipt of JDC’s book The antelope and deer of America [1877].

Castration suppresses deer antlers.

CD has made clear that in Cross and self-fertilisation he had not intended to suggest that autogamie (fertilisation of a flower by its own pollen) is superior to gitonogamie (fertilisation of a flower by one on the same plant).

Sends article and photograph of abnormally hairy family.

Mentions death of his student, Rudolf von Willemoes-Suhm.

Another issue of Origin will be needed for Murray’s annual sale. Has CD any corrections?

Asks whether CD considers it possible that a mollusc could poison anyone on contact, as RD has heard from missionaries about a certain South Sea variety.

Pleased CD is satisfied with translation of Cross and self-fertilisation.

Sends £20 royalties for Insectivorous plants (700 sold).

Gives a possible explanation of exceptions to CD’s observation [Descent, ch. 7] that characters correlated with one sex tend to appear late in life.

Electrotypes and heliotypes can now be sent to Hjalmar Linnström, since payment is guaranteed by the Swedish Consul.

Sends notes on expression [missing].

JDH has just returned from U. S., where he worked on N. American geographical distribution with Asa Gray.

Doubts that glands of calyx of cleistogamic Malpighiaceae serve as protection.

Some species of Solanum bear long- and short-styled flowers on same plant.

Changing colours of some flowers may show insects the proper moment for fertilisation.

Doubts that the style of Pontederia cordata changes length.

Sexual difference in wings of some butterflies due to development in male of scales that emit odours to excite female.

JBI reports that the editor of Journal of Horticulture has identified the tree at Loch Carron as Sambucus racemosa, red-berried elder.

Would like to see the Kosmos article.

Is considering producing a translation of August Weismann’s essays.

Comments on Wallace’s paper on the colours of animals and plants [Macmillan’s Magazine 36 (1877): 384–408, 464–71].

Hooker, just returned from U. S., says Pinus nordmanniana leaves are spread horizontally in the morning and rise during the day.

Sends his paper on Selliera fertilisation [Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. 9 (1876): 542–5]; contrasts it to CD’s description of Leschenaultia [Collected papers 2: 162–5].

Describes the irritability of Glossostigma elatinoides which he concludes is a mechanism to ensure cross-fertilisation.

Loss of water from leaf surfaces; action of a still air layer.

Proposal for CD’s LL.D.