Has CD made arrangements with D. Appleton for Movement in plants? CD’s instructions about the index have been forwarded.

Requests a list of books.

Praises FMB’s BAAS address [on embryology, Rep. BAAS 50 (1880): 636–44]. Recent progress of embryology splendid.

In work on plants, astonished at sensitivity of radicle and its power to transmit stimuli to adjoining part; such general sensitivity should be considered in genesis of nervous system.

Feels "malicious" pleasure at FMB’s criticism of Herbert Spencer.

Observations on earthworms.

Thanks RPH for the trouble he has taken on behalf of the Down Friendly Society.

Reports evidence of earthworm activity.

Writes about worm-castings; tells WED not to bother with samples from Beaulieu Abbey.

Thanks for seeds of Cobaea;

was much interested in AE’s article ["On the fertilisation of Cobaea penduliflora", Nature 22 (1880): 148–9] opposing G. E. M. Bonnier’s view ["Les nectaires", Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.) 6th ser. 8 (1879): 6–212].

Case of Lisianthus is an excellent one of structure and movement of parts adapted to cross-fertilisation.

Asks whether worm-castings are found in the area.

Thanks for letter, which made up for difficulty of his speech [at BAAS meeting, Swansea].

Has met Horace Darwin and wife;

climbed Matterhorn.

Sends sheets of Movement in plants for translation, if JVC sees fit. It has some value and novelty, CD believes, but is very dull.

Wants some more rubber bands for his wrist.

An extract from a life of Kepler about the motions of Mars.

Sends four wrist bands, and advice on putting them on. George is well. Can easily get worm castings. Lilly and Mlle Wild arrived in a storm to stay the night. Is much amused by Sedgwick’s ferocious letter about Vestiges.

Improvement in orthography would be national benefit, but cannot contribute to WV’s paper.

Thanks for sending him a copy of the striking passage from Kepler.

Would be glad to have a set of plates for Movement in plants.

Will be happy to translate CD’s new book [Movement in plants]. Asks how large the book will be.

Comments on WB’s paper ["Über Variabilitäts-Erscheinungen an den Blüthen von Primula elatior und eine Anwendung des biogenetischen Grundgesetzes", Bot. Ztg. 38 (1880): 577–80].

CD is ashamed of length of Movement in plants – with index, nearly 600 pages. JVC will be awfully sick of ch. 1.

In intervals of correcting proofs, he is writing on the formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms. It will be a curious little book [Earthworms].

Sends his paper ["Oceans and continents", Geol. Mag. 7 (1880): 385–91].

Thinks John Murray of Edinburgh goes out of his way to deny an elevation/subsidence view of coral reefs ["On the structure and origin of coral reefs and islands", Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh 10 (1878–80): 505–18].