Comments on HNM’s book [Notes by a naturalist on the "Challenger" (1879)].

A stonemason who has read Origin and Descent and defends CD’s theory against theological prejudice, would like to read CD’s other books but is too poor to afford them.

Sends regards from Capt. Charles Owen, who had collected beetles for CD.

Owen’s son is going to Oregon with Wallis Nash.

Has arranged for publication of his translation of Weismann.

S. H. Scudder article on sexual dimorphism in butterflies [Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. 12 (1877): 150–8].

Wishes to subscribe to RM’s translation of Weismann.

Has seen Scudder’s article.

A. R. Wallace’s article ["Animals and their native countries", Nineteenth Century 5 (1879): 247–59] is excellent.

£100 has arrived and LW will set to work.

Gives results of the experiments: the leaves in most cases make the water alkaline. It cannot be ammonia. He and his son, Francis, suspect potash, which is valued as a manure. Will be grateful for the analysis EF has offered.

GH no longer believes in the value of cross-fertilisation in plants.

Birthday congratulations from the editors of Kosmos. They will mark the occasion with a special number of Kosmos.

Sends birthday wishes.

Comments on progress of CD’s theory in Germany. Mentions opposition of Rudolf Virchow and his reply Freie Wissenschaft und freie Lehre [1878].

Describes research trip to Brittany and Normandy.

Research on Challenger Radiolaria.

Thanks KA and the other editors of Kosmos for the issue published in honour of his birthday. Sees there is much in it that will interest him greatly.

Birthday greetings.

Thanks ADeB for sending him Botanische Zeitung, but asks him to send it no more, as CD takes it regularly and has procured the volumes from the beginning.

Disagrees with GH over the value of cross-fertilisation.

No summary available.

Has sent copy of his new book, Colour-sense [1879]; in anticipation of criticism, he justifies his reliance on recorded observations rather than experiments, by the heavy demands of his career as a journalist.

Encloses HWB’s Royal Society certificate with seven signatures, which CD thinks is ample.

Birthday wishes.

Thanks for birthday greetings.

Can give no information. Has never read works of Aristotle, but has unbounded respect for him as observer.