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

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.

Thanks for criticisms of Colour-sense.

Clarifies his views that actions desirable for species result in development of nervous organs capable of pleasurable stimulation.

Believes that all "tastes" occurring in nature are explicable with reference to ancestral habits and that none is purely arbitrary.

Thanks for postcard informing him of Delboeuf’s review of his book; he had already seen review.

Asks CD to examine his idea that human and animal sociology are related, as each is based on the principle of mutual concession (derived from Schopenhauer’s law of compassion). If CD approves, he should write a note and forward it and GMA’s letter to Macmillan’s Magazine.

Thanks for present and letter.

Wishes a good trip to the lakes and sends love to family members.

Expresses great admiration for CD and requests a picture of him with his signature.

Encloses Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, with account of a fungus that exhales chlorine;

relates his discovery in 1852 of a flowering plant that had "perfectly formed beetles" in the place of anthers.

Hopes CD will read and comment on his lecture ["Origin of flora of the Alps", Proc. R. Geogr. Soc. (1879)]. Disgrees with CD; JB maintains that the high antiquity of existing plant genera and families explains wide differences in their distribution.

Thanks CD for noticing some difficulties in his hypothesis. Concedes that there is no proof that higher plants are more intolerant of carbon dioxide than lower plants. Argues that the main difference between the lowlands and the high mountains in Palaeozoic times would be the much greater climatic fluctuations that would occur on the mountains. Discusses carbon dioxide diffusion in the Palaeozoic atmosphere. Thinks that the large number of species and genera peculiar to high mountains favours the assumption that "their diffusion must date from a geologically remote period" [see ML 2: 20–2].

Since he was innocent of sending the Botanische Zeitung to CD, he inquired of the editor, who informs him that it is sent every week by post by order of Williams and Norgate.

His experiments on nutrition of Utricularia are not sufficiently exact or complete to allow them to be published. He will resume experimentation and report to CD.

Thanks for CD’s interest in his paper on plant movements ["Über die Ursachen der periodischer Bewegungen der Blumen und Laubblätter", Flora 56 (1873): 433–41, 449–55]. AFB concentrated on clear cases, though he knows there are others.

Experiments on function of movement: Mimosa leaves, held so they cannot move, die.

Sleep movements in Oxalis acetosella.

F. Galton and others suggest that he go in for Fellowship [of Royal Society]. Asks that CD propose him. If he is unable to do so HWB will not be hurt to wait another year.

Birthday wishes.

Sends copy of his article ["Die Nectarien der Blüthen", Flora 62 (1879): 2–11, 17–27, 49–54, 81–90, 113–23, 145–53, 233–40, 241–7, 305–14, 369–75, 433–8, 449–57].

GWJB’s experiments inspired by reading CD’s botanical works.

Thanks for CD’s reply to her letter and his kindness. She is getting over her difficulties.

Relates anecdote about a provincial girl’s reaction to being told men descended from monkeys.

Points to CD’s favourable notice of his anthropological work;

details current financial difficulties and work efforts. Asks to borrow £5.