Asks whether, in Italy, varieties of Lathyrus odoratus, Pisum sativum, and Phaseolus multiflorus must be grown separately to come true.

Thanks correspondent for sending him an account of silkworms.

Hopes JT does not think him over-cautious in requesting the return of the copies [of Huxley’s letter]. Has sent Huxley a list of the subscribers.

Asks Murray not to announce Cross and self-fertilisation.

Explains that his publisher has erred in announcing his book [Cross and self-fertilisation] prematurely. [See 8890 and 8897.]

Recommends H. Müller’s Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873).

Thanks FL for sending his essays and some photographs.

Comments on HM’s book [Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)]. Particularly glad to read historical sketch and discussion of work of C. K. Sprengel.

Recommends H. Müller’s Die Befruchtung den Blumen durch Insekten (1873).

Thanks for the Dionaea leaves. They support CD’s anticipation that they are adapted to let the smaller fry escape [see Insectivorous plants, p. 312].

Thanks for note and information.

Mentions venomous caterpillars in Africa and Australia.

John Murray has announced his next book [Cross and self-fertilisation] without CD’s knowledge. It is only half-written. JVC will hear when it is published and will decide whether it is worth translating. It will be dry, but, CD believes, of value.

Has read an account of JVC’s Scottish lectures.

Invites JVC to Down.

Requests litmus paper and gum.

Asks for results of FH’s experiments fertilizing some flowers with pollen from the same flower, & other flowers with pollen from distinct flowers borne by the same plant.

Has read FH’s paper on the distribution of the seeds of the Graminæ (Hildebrand 1872, pp. 740–1) with great interest.

Answers questions about the translations of some species names.

Thanks CL for copy of Antiquity of man [4th ed. (1873)]; will read the modified or new parts.

VOK’s paper ["Osteology of Hyopotamidae", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 21 (1872–3): 147–65] appears a very valuable one.

Discusses work of VOK’s brother [Alexander] on Sagitta and the ascidians.

Has no doubt he will find JJW’s address interesting.

Thinks same spot for nesting might prove attractive to birds, though they had had no intercommunication.

Thanks for ‘Die Schutzmittel des Pollens gegen die Nachtheile vorzeitiger Dislocation und gegen die Nachtheile vorzeitiger Befeuchtung’ (Preventive measures of pollen against damage by premature dislocation and moistening; Kerner 1873) and several pamphlets.

Comments about questionnaire CD completed for FG [for Galton’s English men of science (1874)].

Describes his early interest in collecting and his education.

Asks about determining the mean heights of two groups of men.