Encloses coral specimen and manuscript account of it by William Lonsdale.
Pleased to hear of Peter Henderson’s intended experiment [on Drosera, see 10588]. Asks that she tell Mr Henderson that he believes good derived from animal diet will be shown only by production of larger number of seeds and more luxuriant growth in the ensuing year. Wishes to hear the results.
Would like to see the pigeons, though he is not likely to work on the subject again. When he hears from Dr Scully, he will present them to the British Museum.
Has not had time to use the information about earthworms yet, but hopes to use it in about a year’s time.
Asks WCM to design additional rooms for Down House.
Suggests German works worth translating.
Is glad FD is keeping busy; he has worked excellently on proof-sheets [of Orchids (1877)].
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JDH informs Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] that the weather on Skye has been fine & he took the opportunity to explore more. Describes the island geography as being a bog with some remarkable rocks, a mountain & a lakelet. JDH describes the Quiraing, & vegetation he found there: Sileni acaulis, Arabis petraea, Oxyria & Antennaria. JDH says the Storr rock is similar but less remarkable & takes a long time to get there. Vegetation there consists of long grass, Eleocharis, Carex & heath-clumps. They took a different return journey to Portree. He also describes visiting Loch Arnish & Cuillin. JDH describes ascending a mountain & having stunning views of Rum & Eigg, Mull, Ben Cruachan & Argyle round to Sutherland. Gives vivid description of the valley & pitch black rocks. Describes the journey back to the hotel & the fact that Mrs [Hyacinth] Hooker walked & climbed most of it. JDH observed Miocene & Lias period beds between the lava beds. The area reminds him of the Cantal & Auvergne regions in France, as well as volcanic islands such as Auckland, Campbell & Kerguelen. Describes England & Scotland holding the key to the geology of Skye & the Hebrides much as New Zealand would to other southern isles: as JDH advised Sir James Hector. Wonders when his discovery of fossil wood in Kerguelen Island will be noted. Mrs Lyell with her children, Miss Lyell & Mr Symonds have been with them but have now left for Gair Loch [Gairloch] where JDH & Mrs Hooker will follow. JDH will be at Inverness the next day & will arrive at Aviemore on Saturday. He will then head to Stirling to visit his sister, an old college friend & Indian friend. Next stop will be Sir J Colville's near Dunfermline before heading home.
Arranges for EH’s visit to Down.
Thanks for sending Moritz Wagner’s letter and his essays [on "Der Naturprocess der Artbildung" in Das Ausland (1875)]. Will read them and write to Wagner when his health is better.
Declines to receive Scherzer at Down.
Would like Catasetum and Acropera plants.
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No results yet with graft-hybrids.
Has been writing a paper.
"Lankester seems to have doubled up [H.] Slade [the medium] in fine style".
Sends photographs received from Mr Van der Weyde who is working with associates in Montevideo collecting fossil bones. Asks WHF’s opinion of a specimen about which they are curious.
CD intends urging them to search the Tertiary bed beneath the Pampean formation.
JDH again expresses his condolences.
The Glasgow BAAS meeting was good, except for Tait’s shameful attack on Tyndall.
Immensely impressed on Scottish geological and glacial features. Is CD aware that the earth beneath Glen Roy roads was found to contain freshwater diatoms?
Recounts the itinerary of his honeymoon in Scotland.
