Asks THF to obtain sample of chalk immediately below vegetable mould at Abinger.

No summary available.

[Ernst Krause’s] letter to Nature ["Unconscious memory – Mr Samuel Butler", 23 (1881): 288] has been dispatched.

Gladstone has dated Wallace’s pension from last July, "which is splendid".

Sends address of A. R. Wallace. Comments on Wallace’s pension.

Discusses JHF’s investigations of animals’ sense of direction. Suggests experiment involving magnetism.

Asks THH to sign a certificate of nomination to Geological Society for his son William, if an interest in geology is still enough to qualify for election.

Thanks AdeC for interesting letter. CD has been annoyed by the multitude of new terms lately invented in all branches of biology in Germany. What AdeC says about the word "purpose" made CD vow not to use it again, but it is difficult to cure oneself of a vicious habit and difficult to avoid for anyone who tries to make out the use of a structure.

Francis will write about the diagram [see 13642].

Describes difficulty of obtaining pigs for experiment.

Asks WSD to suspend the enclosed certificate.

Writes of WED’s certificate for the Geological Society

and discusses various instances of earthworm activity.

Thanks FMB for translation of Ernst Krause’s letter for Nature.

Has read with interest GJR’s review [of Samuel Butler, Unconscious memory (1880)] in Nature [23 (1880–1): 285–7]. Heroic of GJR to call down [Butler’s] revenge on his own head. Ernst Krause’s letter [Nature 23 (1880–1): 288] very good.

As magistrate, CD must enforce rules regarding infection in pigs.

Thanks for AG’s reviews [of Movement in plants] in the Journal and Nation [Am. J. Sci. 3d ser. 21 (1881): 245–9 and Nation 32 (1881): 17–18], especially for AG’s comment about Frank Darwin.

Sends copy of Nature in which EK’s letter, translated by Balfour, is printed. Thanks him. Now feels easy.

G. J. Romanes’ language in his review of Butler’s book [Unconscious memory] is perhaps too strong. Butler’s vanity is a "real psychological curiosity".

Discusses investments,

earthworms,

and an article by Romanes [see 13029].

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.