Does not think the pistil behaved as JC described, except by mere accident.

Thanks GBE for his essay on the placenta [Sull’unità del tipo anatomico della placenta nei mammiferi e nell’umana specie (1877)].

Discusses spider specimens.

CD counters Thiselton-Dyer’s objection to protoplasmic filaments of Dipsacus protruding beyond cell-wall, as Frank’s paper claims, by citing white "blood cells passing through vessels".

Has received Moseley’s collection of photographs.

Apologises for sending wrong Cross and self-fertilisation erratum. The error is on p. 191 (where "cross-seeds" appears, it should read "self-fertilised"). There is no error on p. 275.

Asks EH to make a small correction in his translation [of Cross and self-fertilisation].

Baillière wishes to bring out a French translation of Coral reefs; CD requests their co-operation.

Leucosmia burnettiana is in all probability dimorphic. Thinks Gilia is truly heterostyled and Phlox subulata was, perhaps, once heterostyled. Has good evidence of heterostyly in 39 genera from 14 families.

Thanks for CHB’s essay [New observations on hay-fever (1877?)]. The calculation of the weight of pollen-grains is wonderful. Suggests he consult Cross and self-fertilisation, pp. 376, 405 for information on this subject.

Warm thanks for CC’s letter. CD needed no word from CC to be convinced of his high opinion.

Thanks MN for essay ["Die Congerien", Abh. Geol. Bundesanst. Wien 7 (1875)]. It is the best case CD has met, showing "direct influence of conditions of life on the organization". A. Hyatt has come to same conclusion: that closely similar forms may be derived from distinct lines of descent. CD did not emphasise in Origin the direct action of environment on modification of species; most of the best evidence has been observed since its publication.

Enquiring about cleistogamic flowers of Oxalis.

Asks when his waggonette will be finished.

CD doubts that he will be able to do much more that is new, but cannot bear idleness. Has great amount of material on variation under nature, but so much has been published since the appearance of the Origin that he doubts he has the power of mind to render the mass into a digested whole.

Discusses possible cleistogamic flowers in Oxalis.

Thanks for Chauncey Wright’s work [Philosophical discussions (1877)].

Gladstone visited recently, and they discussed the future role of the United States as a world power.

Sends an informal title-page [for Orchids, 2d ed.].

Appreciates the condolences for Frank [on death of his wife, Amy].

Thanks for account of his work. Cannot read Dutch, but son has translated it.

Thanks for album sent by PH’s countrymen.

Wishes to reprint his four Linnean Society papers on di- and trimorphic plants [Forms of flowers]. Requests permission and woodblocks of figures.

Asks FD to mollify Daniel Oliver and assure him that CD asks "only for what I wd. give my life’s blood for".