Discusses sleep movements of Porlieria.

Has read an abstract of Julius Wiesner on heliotropism and geotropism ["Die heliotropischen Erscheinungen im Pflanzenreiche", Anz. Kais. Akad. Wiss. Wien 15 (1878): 137–40] which seems important but is puzzling.

Gives details of his observations on climbing plants with reference to comments by Julius Sachs.

EFL’s account of what CD has done in natural history is full and accurate and could not have been done better. He has added the titles of his later books and the name of his maternal grandfather [Josiah Wedgwood] of whom he is proud.

Offers to give CGS a writing machine.

Federico Delpino on mechanical movements of flower parts of Maranta. CD’s observations on Maranta, and his eagerness to compare cases of movement and irritability in plants.

Has offered Carl Semper the writing machine.

Speculates on the mechanism of movement in plants and their reception of and response to stimuli.

Informs CD that certain cash from U. S. investments does not have income tax deducted.

Has been investigating nutational movements of climbing plants; comments on the opinions of Julius von Wiesner and Julius Sachs. Remarks on the sleep movements of certain plants and the mechanism of tendril curvature. Is experimenting with Porlieria.

Has visited K. G. Semper’s laboratory.

Considers Brown-Séquard’s discovery of inheritance of injury to nerves most important hereditary observation ever. Extremely interested in correspondent’s confirmation. Impressed that in reported cases of inherited injury suppuration tends to follow the injury.

Is sending CD the seeds of a beautiful Cassia given to him by a friend. He sketched the unripe fruit a few months ago. This plant is rare in the area around Sta Catharina. He has found their largest and most beautiful butterfly Callidryas manippe near this tree and its caterpillars living on its leaves. Comments on how remarkable it is to find a species limited to living on a single tree in so large an area.

Thanks CD for his condolences. Reminisces about their youth.

On the death of his naturalist friend, W. C. Hewitson.

Thanks CD for his kind letter and accepts his offer of a writing machine.

She and her father will not be idle working on worms for CD.

Notes Julius Sachs’s opinion on the heliotropism of moulds: he can see no use in the response.

C. E. Stahl is working on swarm spores which can be made both helio- and apheliotropic.

Sachs has told him that some ferns sleep, and he suspects that some grasses may move.

Sachs also feels they may be working at bloom from a wrong point of view and suggests leaves may need to keep dry in order to keep their stomata open.

Does not think the Petunia is anything remarkable.

Thanks for seeds

and information about earthworms.

Is working hard at movement in plants.

Pleased CGS will accept machine.

Idea has struck him that might be of use to CD: that rapid changes during growth as in some plants and in insect metamorphosis may bear analogy to the slower changes resulting in the formation of new varieties.

Is forwarding the writing machine to Carl Semper.

Is glad FD has taken up his old friends, the twiners.

Hopes to get heliotropic aerial roots from J. D. Hooker. Asks FD to find out whether any moulds or roots are apheliotropic. Is puzzled by heliotropism in subterranean roots.

CD named corresponding member of the Royal Bavarian Academy of Science. [See 11634.]

Explains that it was his son, Grant, who sent JAA’s article defending Darwinian origins of morality.

Comments on CD’s Canadian admirers

and asks whether Grant may visit CD at Down.