Asks specific questions on looking after plants of Dionaea. [The correspondent’s replies to the questions are written beneath them.]

Believes in differentiated nerve-tracts [in Medusa] because of experiment in which contractile waves blocked. [See GJR’s "Evolution of nerves", Nature 16 (1877): 231–3, 269–71, 289–93.] Did not know author of MS was Miss Lawless. Describes experiment on contractile waves in Aurelia. Also studying starfish.

Thanks for plants.

Thanks R. I. Lynch for information about "bloom" on leaves.

WTT-D should not write to Mr Smith about plants near seashore.

Whilst staying in Salt Lake City JDH & Asa Gray made a botanical excursion to the Wahsatch [Wasatch] mountains & saw the 'Emma Mine'. Comments on the significance of the mountain flora to understanding plant distribution; they found plants that connect the Flora of Colorado & Utah with that of California. Went from Salt Lake City to Ogden where the Stracheys left for England. Stracheys were to return by train via Cheyennes, Omaha, Chicago, Niagara & then on the Hudson to New York & ship to England. JDH went on through the salt desert region to Reno & Carson City, the region is hot & treeless but irrigation allows cultivation of crops. JDH, Gray & Hayden visited Virginia City in mountains full of gold & silver mines, around which towns grow up, as in a gold rush. Lists some of the richest mines' yields. Briefly discusses the mining processes & machinery used for processing quartz & ores, also the conditions the miners work in underground. Gold & silver are the currency of the towns. Many thousands of people have been ruined trying to make a fortune from mining a lode which turned out to be small & the mountains are full of prospectors. Next JDH & party go to Silver City, across the mountains to Yosemite, Calaveras Groves & on to San Francisco The last of JDH's work in the United States of America will be in the forests of the Pacific coast. He has collected plants across the continent from East to West representing an excellent achievement in geographical botany. It has been tiring work & JDH longs to be home with Hyacinth Hooker, his wife.

Encloses specimens of milk-weed with trapped insects. Indian hemp catches insects in the same way but with less success.

Thanks for CD’s comments on ["Evolution of nerves"]. Admits that he may have "been too keen in my scent after nerves".

Notes effect of reversing direction of current in muscular tissue.

Thanks for Francis Darwin’s Dipsacus paper.

Dislikes the word "protoplasm", because improved microscopes will uncover more fundamental substances. Also "plasma" merely hides the ignorance of modern chemists.

Expects waxy, glaucous-leaved plants to be most frequent in dry temperate climates.

Electrotypes of woodcuts [of Forms of flowers] are ready for Koch [of Schweizerbart]. Murray has printed 1250 copies, instead of 1000 as planned.

CD forwards letter from F. J. Cohn [11093] that provides confirmation of observations by Francis Darwin on the contractile filaments protruded from the glands of Dipsacus.

Thanks for letter about Pontederia.

Discusses plants sent for experiments and "bloom" on leaves of Trifolium.

Sends enclosure for R. I. Lynch.

Asks WED to make some observations on Acacia or Robinia.

Thanks for Forms of flowers.

Suggests plant hairs protect them from insects either mechanically or by stinging.

No summary available.

Asks about sleep movements of Erythrina crista-galli. Comments on movements of Averrhoa.

No summary available.

Would like specimen of Cassia mimosoides.

Offers books to R. I. Lynch in return for services rendered.

Action of heavy rain on the leaves of Robinia.

CD’s curious observations on Trifolium resupinatum.

Describes a Maranta remarkable for its leaf asymmetry: its leaves are elliptical on one side and oblong on the other.

Thanks GC for his new work [La teoria dell’evoluzione esposta (1877)]. CD regrets he cannot read Italian.