CD has never before seen the Utricularia DN has sent. Hooker had told him about it. Asks that her gardener observe young Utricularia: CD is interested in internal structure of little balls on bladders.

Sends photograph.

Should like to borrow again a volume which he returned in error. Requests The Quarterly Magazine of the High Wycombe Natural History Society for 1867 and 1868 to locate paper on Utricularia.

An anonymous letter praising the Origin.

He has physical peculiarities that support CD’s theories: e.g., ability to dilate nostrils like a rabbit and to spread out the toes of both feet.

Sends copy of one of his books.

Asks for drawing of CD’s right foot.

No summary available.

Thiselton-Dyer’s announcement of his inability to continue as JDH’s private secretary is a blow. He will now be doing original work. JDH is glad of that but the loss of his help is great.

Sends CD a statement of number of thousands of copies printed thus far [by Murray’s] of: Journal of researches (12), Origin (13), Descent (10), and Expression (9).

Describes the coral formations of Zanzibar and east coast of Africa.

Utricularia has broken into pieces and appears to be decaying.

Describes the coral formations of the island of Rodriguez [Indian Ocean].

CD should remove packing moss, and he will find bladders in foot-stalks of Utricularia DN sent.

Experimenting on insectivorous plants.

Implores CD to visit.

Thanks for photograph.

Sends MS intended some day for the Viola tricolor section of Cross and self-fertilisation [pp. 123–8] to be used by JL in his British wild flowers (1875).

Asks FD to come early to write from dictation.

Thanks Amy for her drawing of Utricularia montana.

Has translated Origin into Serbian and wants CD’s authorisation to publish.

Describes his observations on Utricularia montana.

Stupidly missed Utricularia bladders, which he assumed were with the leaves. Has now found true bladders on roots and has evidence of captive prey. Thinks bladders capture subterranean insects. Thinks the large bladder-like structures are water reservoirs. DN’s plant has given him a most enjoyable day of work.

States his admiration for CD’s views and their progress in the U. S.

Thanks for 5th edition of his book [Natürliche] Schöpfungsgeschichte.

CD continues with his experiments on the digestive power of plants, which is much like that of mammals.

Is also preparing a revised edition of Descent.

Would welcome hearing more of his ideas about Pangenesis.

Postscript about Anthropogenie, which has just arrived. EH’s astonishing productivity.

Asks JDH to cut a bit of root from old Utricularia and bring it with him to Down.