He and Emma rejoice that GHD’s mathematical troubles are at an end. It is miraculous that he unconsciously followed the right course – like composing a sonata by a fluke.

Crossing experiments with common and Chinese geese. Offers CD geese if he wishes to repeat experiments.

Is glad WO is undertaking the editing of Anton Kerner’s book [Schutzmittel der Blüthen gegen unberufene Gäste (1876)], which appears to open out "highly original & curious fields of research". [Used as prefatory letter to Kerner, Flowers and their unbidden guests, The translation revised and edited by W. Ogle (1878).]

GJR’s speech at Dublin [BAAS meeting] was an enormous success, with tremendous applause at mention of CD’s name at the finale.

Contraction of plant roots.

Asks FD to reply to a letter [11653a] requesting a list of CD’s books.

Thanks FBG for his offer [of geese for breeding experiments] but cannot undertake anything. Suggests FBG or any friend cross half-bred birds for a few generations; it would be a valuable contribution to science.

Comments on GJR’s lecture on animal intelligence [Rep. BAAS].

Comments on J. R. L. Delboeuf, La psychologie [1876].

Suggests that GJR keep a young monkey to observe.

JDH writes that he & his wife, Hyacinth, are in Ireland. Killarney weather is terrible. JDH comments on absence from Dublin of [William Henry] Harvey & [Edward] Wright but notes David Moore is keeping the botanic garden well. Has recently been in touch with: [Daniel] Hanbury, Charles Dwight Marsh, Robert Lambourne & George Davidson of the Pacific Coast Survey. Discusses his work on the genus Amaranth for the GENERA PLANTARUM, he has referred to Martius' work. JDH gives news of his family: his sister Maria [McGilvray] & husband are unwell, 1 of their children is a tea planter in India. Hooker's son Charles Paget Hooker has failed his medical exams. Brian Harvey Hodgson Hooker has gone to Barmen to study German & will then go to School of Mines. John Smith [Curator of Kew] has been seriously unwell, William Thiselton-Dyer has been left in charge of RBG Kew. Mentions: a letter to Wesley; the opinion of [Harvey Wilson] Harkness & [John] Muir on Sequoia trunks; & the Miocene flora of Iceland. Discusses geology, specifically his & Gray's differing opinions on glacial formation of granite valleys in the USA & contemporary formation of land masses. Discusses biogeography: Gray's thinking on commonalities in the Greenland & North American Flora. Disputes the correct classification of: Draba streptocarpa, Arenaria uliginosa & A. rossii. Discusses the correct name of the Cypress Point [California] Cupressus; is it a form of common American tree C. macrocarpa? C. goveniana is different & C. macnabiana still uncertain. Mentions C. lambertiana seed collected by Ruprecht possibly on Krusenstern's expedition. Disagrees with Gray, re. climate & the relative importance of the equator & poles. Does not understand why Gray has called Olive a deciduous tree, or his comments on drought. Mentions specimens of a Texas Amaranth. Discusses Gray's book INTRODUCTION TO MORPHOLOGY & CLASSIFICATION, [Julius von] Sachs history of botany & politician Sir Trevor Lawrence's motion about opening Kew.

Writes for CD. Thanks correspondent for curious case of inheritance, which CD cannot use as he is working in different directions.

Has changed his mind and would like some of FBG’s hybrids to breed from. Feels he should not lose the chance of perhaps recording the fertility of hybrids of two distinct species.

Sends pamphlet.

Thanks CD for his reply.

Is gratified by EV’s "spirited and able defence" in the article printed in La France [26 April 1878].

Heliotropic responses in aerial roots and tendrils.

Sends seeds received from Fritz Müller.

Has been reading WTT-D’s lecture ["Plant-distribution as a field for geographical research", Proc. R. Geogr. Soc. 22: 412–45].

Sends address of Fritz Müller.

Thanks for letter on ALA’s qualifications for vacant chair of natural history.

Reports observations on deer which have larger left antlers than right, possibly for protection of heart.

Thanks him for ["Beiträge zur Geschichte der Bestäubungstheorie", in Program der Königlichen Gewerbeschule zu Elberfeld, 1877/78 (1879)]. Agrees with appreciation of Carl Sprengel’s work. Rejoices how highly GWJB appreciates Hermann Müller.

Thanks for comments on his lecture ["Nervous system of Medusa"]

and for information [about J. R. L. Delboeuf, La psychologie (1876)].

His son, the Serbian translator of the Origin, has died.

Heliotropism in roots.

Francis Darwin’s work on "bloom" and its relation to stomata.