Sends MS chapter on voice from Expression to HL for examination.

Agrees with R. B. Litchfield about Herbert Spencer’s views on speech and music.

Requests that PB express his thanks to the Société d’Anthropologie de Paris for the honour conferred upon him [see 8102].

Discusses movement of ears and contraction of the platysma.

Discusses phyllotaxy, citing work of Carl Nägeli and Chauncey Wright.

Congratulates Horace on passing his "Little Go".

Will be in London until 21st. Would rejoice if JDH could come to lunch during their stay.

Thanks her for marked proof-sheets.

Discusses climate in earlier geological periods.

H. Holland keeps strongly to the opinion that Kew be under the Treasury, and will recommend this to Lowe.

Thanks WO for a paper and for information about platysma. Has asked several persons to observe the muscle during a shivering fit, but all have failed.

Requests further information on subsidence of flagstones because of action of worms.

Sends notes on left- and right-handedness from observations made on his eldest son as an infant.

His admiration for the papers of AG [see 8119].

Relates his recent discovery that earthworms have brought to surface no less than 161 tons of dry earth over an area of 10 acres, thus creating the conditions for significant denudation. Would welcome information about the persistence of ridges and furrows in old pasture lands ploughed centuries ago. Do they run down the slopes or transversely? Refers to [A. C.] Ramsay, [James] Croll, Elie de Beaumont, and [Henry] Johnson.

Is obliged for valuable letter [see 8123] and encloses queries about the manner of gradual obliteration of ridges or furrows in old pasture lands in various parts of England.

Gives details of his experiment to test his observations of the downward flow of worm-casts.

Refers to [Lyon] Playfair, [A. C.] Ramsay, and AG’s edition of [J. B.] Jukes, [A student’s manual of geology, 3d ed., 1872].