Asks for London address of George King [Superintendent of Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta], so he can ask about worm-castings sent by King from S. India. Has just received a splendid letter from John Scott on worms.

Asks where he can buy Dionaea.

Comments on discussions with C. Reinwald concerning French edition of Expression.

Discusses distribution of presentation copies of Expression. Sends instructions for mailing his copies. Discusses negotiations with C. Reinwald concerning French edition. Suggests journals to receive review copies.

Asks for address of a Mrs Barber somewhere in South Africa.

JDH’s letter in Nature [6 (1872): 516–17] is excellent, and wonderfully quiet.

Severely criticises Owen’s conduct.

Asks to see notes on Indian worm-castings.

Dionaea plants have arrived. Just ready to observe some points in their structure.

Has Murray sent Expression book?

JDH’s particulars about Owen, Ayrton and Co. ("a nice firm") amused CD much.

Obliged for letter on worm-castings. Asks GK to observe them in southern Europe.

Sends a copy of Expression

and speaks fondly of his memories of Woodhouse and the Owen family.

Sends a copy of Expression and his autograph.

Thanks SH for news of her family. Would like her to visit Down in the spring.

Cannot accept honour of nomination as Lord Rector [of Aberdeen University].

Pros and cons of answering Owen’s letter.

On Artizans’ Dwellings, he approves the object but it is lost money as an investment.

Thanks for Louisville Courier Journal.

Discusses production of plates [for Expression].

If decapod does not pass through zoea stage, is this acceleration? If hypothetical adult retained zoea characters, would this be retardation? Believes obliteration of growth stages frequently due to natural selection. Most interesting points in AH’s letter deal with senile characters. CD attributes them to laws of growth not selection. Explains degraded characters as result of readaptation to simpler conditions. Believes no innate tendency to progressive development exists.

Hopes AH visits F. Hilgendorf’s famous deposit [at Steinheim]. A. Weismann [Einfluss der Isolierung (1872)] makes good use of Hilgendorf’s observations.

Thanks for information about the Atropia.

Comments on additional printing of Expression. Complains about poor quality of plates.

Mentions publication of Expression.

Asks whether children born blind ever frown, shed tears, or contract orbicular muscles.

Congratulates FCD on his anniversary [as Professor at Utrecht].

Exceptional cases of frowning by children born blind have been reported to CD by R. H. Blair [see 8615]; CD asks WB for information and observations on the use of the muscles around the eye by those blind from birth.