Thanks VD for information on caterpillars selecting food plants from within one family,

and on similar behaviour in hogs, which will not eat any plants from a family containing some poisonous members.

Agrees that time alone can do nothing to modify species.

Is aware that the Papaveraceae are self-fertile but feels this does not preclude an occasional cross.

CD came to believe Drosera drew its nourishment from insects because it grows where no other plants survive. Doubts glands are modified stomata.

Suggests works by Grönland and Trécul.

CD is puzzled by VD’s supposed hybrid tomato. If a hybrid, it would have to result from the "direct action of the pollen of a distinct species in the mother plant". CD believes this sort of inheritance occurs in varieties (though some botanists disagree), but not for species. Suggests "bud-variation".

Has sent remaining sheets for proposed French translation of Erasmus Darwin. Edmond Barbier should consider the pages from Seward’s Life that have been cut from the English edition.