Reports on rats that gnawed holes in lead pipes.

Thanks for Catasetum and other specimens.

Claims to have proved the great antiquity of several plant races. But this does not contradict the tendency to vary. Insists that heredity can make permanent varieties of sufficient duration to occur as fossils.

PAH’s friend, a florist, is repeating CD’s experiments with Dionaea muscipula.

CD’s works stir interest in America.

Bombus mastrucatus, an alpine bee, conforms to his observations that B. terrestris breaks open the flowers of Trifolium pratense. However, in the Alps, B. terrestris does not behave this way.

Gentiana species are adapted to lepidopteran cross-fertilisation.

Has received a baffling article on God, immortality, and socialism under a Darwinian point of view.

Clerk Maxwell has disagreed with CD on molecular calculations in relation to Pangenesis in Encyclopaedia Britannica article ["Atom", Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9th ed. (1875) 3: 36–49].

Sends £25 subscription, though he is not a churchman.

Hopes GdeS will publish on subjects discussed in his letter [10587]. CD had noted similar persistence of variation in fossil shells.

Calls his attention to Nägeli’s work on Hieracium.

Expresses skepticism about O. Heer’s view that dicotyledonous plants developed suddenly. Believes they must have developed slowly in some part of the globe completely isolated from other regions.

His research on Orchis maculata.

Discusses effect of disuse of anthers in Salvia officinalis.

Pleased CD can use his observations on Primula elatior.

Informs LD of the death of Francis Darwin’s wife, Amy.

Reports the death of Francis’ wife, Amy.

CD grieves over death of Frank’s wife Amy; worries that it will weaken Frank’s determination to pursue his scientific work.

Thanks JS for three essays. Has read with great interest the essay on the basking shark ["Sur les appareils tamiseurs ou fanons branchiaux du Pélerin", Kjo|benhaven Oversigt (1873): 47–66]. The explanation that the comb-like structures are of the nature of teeth is a "most wonderful case".

Sends his photograph.

Thanks CD for sending a photograph.

JDH’s condolences at Amy Darwin’s death.

Describes behaviour of apes and monkeys in presenting coloured hindquarters.

Mentions observations on apes and other mammals. Describes habits of apes and monkeys in presenting hindquarters. Thinks species that present always have colourful hindquarters. Discusses possible exceptions to rule.

Thanks GWN for condolences on death of Amy, his daughter-in-law.

Convinced Cross and self fertilisation is of permanent value, though an extremely dry, special subject. Thinks it will sell for many years and suggests a printing of 1500 copies. Asks that a good indexer be found and put to work. Appleton has agreed to publish it

and Orchids, [2d ed.], if Murray’s will supply stereotype plates.

Forwards chapter [of Orchids (1877)] for correction.

Sadness at the death of Amy.