The Birmingham Philosophical Society proposes to celebrate CD’s birthday and make him their first Honorary Member. RLT will draft the address.

Sends publications.

Discusses comparative anatomy and evolutionary implications of several ligaments.

Thinks effects of Chinese foot-binding are inherited.

Criticises article on Darwinism in Brockhaus’ Lexikon.

Mentions forthcoming book on mammalian vertebrae.

Sends seed attached to breast feathers of a heron that had been shot.

SB has decided to lay the matter [the subject of 12393 and 12396] before the public and has written to the Athenæum stating the facts. [Athenæum 31 Jan 1880.]

Thanks CD for giving money to the children. Is going to give money to Bessy, but not invest it until she is really rich. Returns Butler’s letter. Thinks Butler is looking for a grievance to write an article about.

Asks CD to write his opinion of the views expressed in "Die Darwin’sche Theorie und die Landwirtschaft" in his journal, Reunion.

Advise against making any reply to Samuel Butler’s charges.

Has shown S. Butler’s Athenæum letter to Frederick Pollock, who confirms RBL’s advice that it needs no answer. Sends an imaginary response by Butler.

WZS, 12-year-old pupil, asks where he can find answer to question of what causes different shades of colour in inhabitants of earth.

Germination of Megarrhiza. AG’s observations at variance with CD’s.

Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.

Thinks Huxley’s judgment on answering S. Butler’s charges would be trustworthy, though THH is horribly pugnacious and would naturally be for fighting.

Since CD has decided not to answer S. Butler’s charge, WSD will not reply either.

Will look over Francis Darwin’s lecture ["Climbing plants"] with a view to publishing it in Popular Science Review [19 (1880): 213–29].

Thinks CD has no need to reply to Samuel Butler’s hostile article [in the Athenæum]. Offers to reply himself.

Thinks Herbert Spencer has done little service to science but a great service to thinking.

Thinks importance of mathematics overestimated [by J. F. Moulton] in criticising Spencer.

Returns [Butler’s] attack, which he forgot to send yesterday.

Sends birthday wishes.

Discusses work on Medusae.

Recalls visit to Down.

Describes formation of student nature study club at the University of Jena. Sends birthday greetings from the club.

"Dia" [as a prefix] means "through, across".

WED’s wife would like to meet the Huxleys.

Birthday greetings.

Regrets Butler’s malicious attack.