Has read WEG’s article ["The colour sense", Nineteenth Century 2 (1877): 366–88] on H. Magnus’ view. Informs him of a criticism of this view and reply by Magnus in Kosmos. Offers to send the article.

CD has contributed some facts on the difficulty children have in distinguishing colours (or naming them correctly).

Encloses his marriage present, which he fears Sara [Darwin née Sedgwick] will think "atrociously unsentimental", but he hopes useful.

Approves terms used in LAE’s manuscript. Discusses relative advantages of self-fertilisation and cross-fertilisation.

Thanks LAE for pointing out erratum [in Cross and self-fertilisation].

Is glad to hear R. B. Litchfield is better.

Discusses William Darwin’s engagement to Sara Sedgwick.

CD’s opinion of a specimen sent by JBI from an unknown tree, and the Ross-shire tale about it.

Gives permission to translate Expression.

Wants seed with large cotyledons to test for sensitivity and movement.

Thanks for information, which will be useful if CD ever brings out a corrected edition of his book [Forms of flowers].

AdeC’s two letters on bloom will be very useful; his remarks on evaporation and absorption seem very just. CD has made few experiments as yet. The investigation has been tedious and difficult.

Thanks GdeS for communicating his discovery. It is especially important at a time when several naturalists have declared that development occurs quite suddenly at intervals. Joseph Le Conte in N. America urges that even new families and orders are developed within an extremely short period.

Movements in cotyledons; outlines tracing technique. [A tracing of movements of red cabbage cotyledon enclosed.]

CD is occupied with vegetable physiology.

Prefers to read MS when published.

Cannot give information requested. Seems incredible that mere contact should be poisonous.

Thanks CTEvS for photographs of human abnormality;

regrets death of Rudolf von Willemoes-Suhm.

Sends a query he would like GHD to put to Clerk Maxwell: why does a sponged leaf dry more rapidly, although sponging cannot remove the waxy bloom from the minute pores through which it is secreted?

Is very glad to hear about tides in the earth.

Interesting article by Fritz Müller on sexual selection in butterflies, Kosmos [1 (1877): 388–95].

Has read JT’s address ["Science and man", The Times, 2 October 1877, p. 8]. What JT says about CD honours and pleases him. JT’s short character of Faraday is beautiful.

Welcomes JDH home from American expedition.

Thinks Weismann would welcome a translation.

Was dissatisfied with Wallace’s article.

CD sends £5.5.0 with a formal note "as some aid to Mrs Beke", but does not wish to subscribe for Dr Beke’s work on Mt Sinai.