Sends CD Dr Wood’s lecture on insectivorous plants.

Had no intention of antagonising CD with his observations on Linum; was anxious to account for its apparently different behaviour.

Sends the first part [of Die Dolomit-Riffe von Südtirol und Venetien (1878–9)], which explains the coral reefs of the Triassic in terms of CD’s theory and discusses the imperfection of the geological record.

Gives a referee’s report on Samuel Haughton’s paper ["Notes on physical geology, no. IV", read 4 Apr 1878; published as "Physical geology", Nature 18 (1878): 266–8]. Believes his estimate of geological time is extremely wild. The conclusion that the interval of time separating the Miocene from the present is greater than that between the commencement of the Secondary period and the Miocene "seems almost monstrous". Recommends the paper not be published in the Proceedings.

Has not studied Geum, but suppression of one sex is not rare in plants.