Discusses earthworms and their ability to perceive narrowest points of leaves to draw them into their burrows.

Discusses investments.

The action of worms when drawing leaves into their burrows.

Asks whether vegetable mould has an acid reaction. The contents of intestines of earthworms and castings are acid, which leads him to inquire about mould.

Comments on CGS’s The natural conditions of existence [1881] and on views of Moritz Wagner on geographical distribution.

Discusses cause of variability.

Butler’s reply to EK is a renewed attack on CD. Urges EK not to answer it. His last letter contains everything necessary. Asks EK for dates of CD’s letter asking EK’s permission to publish a translation of his article [on Erasmus Darwin] and of the letter in which he told EK that Butler’s book had been advertised.

Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.

Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".

Orders vaseline and pomatum – the latter to put on his beard, which in dry weather feels uncomfortably harsh.

Thanks for pt 6 of [Australian orchids].

Asks EH to call on Zeiss and to help arrange for microscope for Francis Darwin.

Thanks GJR for his second letter replying to Butler [Nature 23 (1880–1): 335–6].

Thanks him for his letter in Nature [23 (1880–1): 336, concerning Samuel Butler’s Unconscious Memory]. Explains how revision in Krause’s part [of Erasmus Darwin] and the subsequent misunderstanding came about.

Cannot help JP [with bird-powered flying machine].

Thanks for Evolutionist at large [1881]. Envies GA’s power of writing. Some statements are too bold, but several of the views are new to CD and seem "extremely probable".

Uncle Erasmus is ill.

Thanks WED for his trouble about the cottages.

He has signed the note to Higgins.

CD has used WED’s Rhododendron case in Earthworms [p. 69].

Is using paper triangles in experiments on intelligence of worms.

Queries account for book "Fauna Neapol. II"

Acknowledges with thanks the honour conferred by the Entomological Club of New York in electing CD an honorary member.

Thanks for honour conferred upon him by the Otago Institute.

Wishes the society and its publications every success.

AD exaggerates what CD has done for science.

On the Zoological Yearbook, CD thinks it would be an excellent plan to give an account of zoological publications from all countries in a single work.

Summarises the "remarkable facts about the movements of plants" in Fritz Müller’s letter of January [12996]. CD comments that Müller’s observations support the conclusion that he and Francis Darwin arrived at – that leaves go to sleep to escape the full effects of radiation.