[Valediction and signature only.]

Hooker has told her of CD’s work on insectivorous plants. Offers plants, but her Dionaea plants are too small now.

Thanks DFN for her letter [see 9620].

Has nearly finished work on Dionaea.

Asks her to send a specimen of Drosera dichotoma.

Thanks her for specimen of Drosera. Asks for an epiphytic Utricularia.

Offers Utricularia montana and gives instructions for growing Drosera.

Wishes to visit CD at Down when she comes to London.

Returns a Drosera, from which he cut a piece for microscopic examination.

Utricularia montana just arrived.

Has sent the Utricularia with the bladders that CD described.

In Variation CD does not mention a rare breed of Siamese cat, which she owns.

Asks for another photograph.

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.

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.

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.

Will send a different Utricularia species when the seedlings are better established.

Would like to know the results of CD’s Utricularia experiments.

A Brazilian love-bird, escaped from captivity, has been found in a robin’s nest, apparently starved to death along with three young robins.

CD thought he had already reported to DN on Utricularia. The large swellings in roots store water. The minute bladders are adapted to catch live animals and feed on decayed remains.

Will visit DN when in London this winter.