Discusses use by correspondent of clichés from one of his books.

Thanks correspondent for present of book [unspecified].

Tells RH that he has secured an introduction to Lady Elizabeth Finch through a friend of his father’s. Thanks RH for his efforts.

Belittles the loss of a book borrowed from CD.

Acknowledges cheque in payment for purchase of microscope for John Lubbock.

Comments on paper by HE [see 10328].

Mentions receiving GJR’s paper on Medusae [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.) 12 (1876): 524–31].

Will call on GJR in London.

Suspects that the reported skeleton of a tailed man is that of some distinct animal [see 10432].

Amused by brief visit of strange man about whom RB had written.

Hopes that geology continues to flourish in Canada.

Trip to London delayed.

Will call tomorrow morning.

Congratulates GJR on lecture ["The physiology of the nervous system of Medusa", Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 8 (1875–8): 166–77].

Thanks AWvH for his work on Justus Liebig [The life-work of Liebig (1876)].

Arranges to meet with WBC to get his advice about buying a microscope.

Promises to send sheets of his new book [Cross and self-fertilisation].

Asks CL to address a letter to Charles Maclaren.

Discusses recent publication by David Milne on erratic boulders [Edinburgh New Philos. J. 42 (1847): 154–172].

Views of Bernhard Studer on foliation of gneiss in the Alps. Asks CL to tell Leonard Horner of Studer’s views.

Encloses essay by Haeckel criticising Pangenesis [Die Perigenesis der Plastidule (1876)]. Discusses Haeckel’s theory of inheritance.

Asks about the Physiological Society.

Describes discovery by his son [Francis Darwin] of protoplasmic filaments extending from small glands in the leaves of Dipsacus [see Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 26 (1877): 4–8].

Regrets he cannot hear lecture by F. C. Donders.

Hopes to see WB before he returns home.

Joseph Fayrer can supply cobra poison.

Discusses vivisection.

Mentions visit to the John Hawkshaws.

Quotes from South America [p. 167] on the foliation of metamorphic rocks.

Asks for copy of [unspecified] essay, but will not answer it.