On Lyell’s death; JDH has arranged for burial in Westminster Abbey. His thoughts on a testimonial.

More trouble with Lord Henry Lennox.

Speculates on the function of eyebrows and of hair and the furrows of the forehead. Considers many features and faculties to serve, or to have served, more than one function, either simultaneously or successively. Determining the one function through which natural selection has acted in developing it is unrealistic and not worth while.

Thanks for presentation copy of Descent, 2d ed.

Comments on his Flora fossilis Arctica [vol. 3 (1875)]. Discusses successive appearance of plant families in geological periods. Relates plant development to rise of herbivorous mammals.

Comments on death of Charles Lyell.

Sends two treatises which explain cell-wall formation and some aspects of cell growth in physico-chemical terms ["Experimente zur Theorie d. Zellenbildung und Endosmose", Arch. Anat. Physiol. (1867): 87–128, 126–65].

CD’s Descent.

Fighting among beetles.

Similarity between dogs and men; intelligence of dogs.

Has found the relation of pollen-grain size to style size in Primula to be the opposite of CD’s view; asks whether there is an error or just remarkable variation.

Purpose of bushy tails; their usefulness to their owners as a means of keeping warm.

Is glad CD is pleased with his book [Cave hunting (1874)].

Relationship between language and race. The Basques.

Thanks CD for Descent

and for his praise of Cosmic philosophy [1874].

Reports an Araujia in Portugal that captures various insects on the horns of its stigma. Relates this to another asclepiad, Apocynum, which also captures insects. Is this "insectivory" or insect fertilisation?

Uses of tails of mice. Functions of tails generally.

No action on assistance yet, but has had a private note from Disraeli asking whether Thiselton-Dyer is his recommendation.

Sends a short essay [The pathology and treatment of diseases of the ovaries (1874)] on which he would welcome CD’s opinion. Believes problems of pathology can be attacked by regarding them from "Darwinian" point of view.

A curious alteration in the reprint of Variation.

Gives Carl Claus’s identifications of the organisms sent by CD.

Suggests advantage to students of adding coloured drawings of the coral-producing zoophytes in next edition of Coral reefs.

Thanks for reference concerning regeneration of human fingers and toes.

Sends lecture on language.

Asks for information about animal communication by vocal sounds.

He will write to Portugal for the insect-capturing Araujia.

Discusses his work [Flora fossilis Arctica, vol. 4, pt 1 (1876)].

Sends copy of [Fossile Pflanzen von Sumatra (1874)]. Comments on climate in Tertiary period, especially on Sumatra.

Comments on theory of Thomas Belt concerning climatic change in ice age.