Sends nest of a Uruguayan bird.

Sends photographs of himself.

Thanks CD for book [Cross and self-fertilisation]

and Francis Darwin for publications.

Discusses publication of CD’s essays in three German popular periodicals.

Haeckel is ill.

German translation of George Darwin, "Marriage between first cousins" [1875] has sold 250 copies.

Returns E. Haeckel’s Perigenesis [der Plastidule (1876)]. EH’s "plastidules" do not differ from Spencer’s "physiological units". Does not see that biology gains anything from EH’s theory.

Can FG come to lunch on Sunday? George Darwin wants to meet him.

Declines offer involving embryological studies.

Encloses extract [missing] on a caterpillar.

Mentions William Buckler’s magnificent drawings of caterpillars [The larvae of the British butterflies and moths, Ray Soc. (1886–91)], but doubts Buckler will lend them for any Darwinian purpose. John Hellins has a portion of drawings and is more liberal.

Has read CD’s note on the scarcity of holly berries ["Holly berries" (1877), Collected papers 2: 189–90] resulting from the scarcity of bees. Believes the shortage of bees resulted from the wet year 1875, which led to a very poor honey harvest.

Observations on and explanations of the scarcity of fruit and berries (especially holly berries) evident that year.

GMT’s observations [on scarcity of holly berries] throw doubt on CD’s conclusions [see Collected papers 2: 189–90].

Would like to see essay [on effects of conscription in France, see 10774]. Knows of Swiss memoir to the same effect. Author says Swiss yeomen apt to leave homestead to sickly son. Landed populations deteriorate.

TMR’s address ["Geological time" (Presidential Address, 1876), Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 3 (1878): 211–35] not yet published. Will send copy.

Comments on AW’s book [Studien zur Descendenz-Theorie (1875–6)], especially on mimicry in caterpillars.

Mentions sets of drawings of British Lepidoptera in all stages. Would AW like to see them?

Asks whether CD has any observations to make on J. R. L. Delboeuf’s article ["Les mathématiques et la transformisme"] in Revue Scientifique [2d ser. 29 (1877): 669–79]. He would be pleased to receive a letter or article for publication.

CD asks if he may call next day for talk.

Has not seen Delboeuf’s article [see 10786] and would be obliged for a copy. He is not likely to have any comments as he is engaged in other work.

Believes CD is in error in his notice on the scarcity of holly berries [Collected papers 2: 189–90] in asserting that holly is not a hermaphrodite.

Thanks for the copy of Orchids.

At Asa Gray’s request, writes what he knows about Pontederia cordata.

Thanks DN for references.

The Apocyanaceae that catch Lepidoptera represent the most gratuitous case of cruelty in nature known to CD, since the captured butterfly is of no use to the plant.