Enumerates fossil mammals known in Secondary strata.
Lack of angiosperm plants in rocks older than Chalk is no reason to anticipate rarity of warm-blooded quadrupeds.
Casual observations onDrosera.
Wants to know author of good review ofOrigininLondon Review[& Wkly J. Polit.1 (1860): 11–12, 32–3, 58–9].
Athenæumwill reprint Gray’s discussion.
Observations onDrosera: plants can distinguish minute quantities of nitrogenous substances.
Requests observations onDroseraandDionaea,
and asks DO to look up Buchanan and Wight on insectivorous plants ["Conspectus of IndianUtricularia",Hooker’s J. Bot.1 (1849): 372–4].
Thanks for reference toAnnales des Sciences Naturelles.
Requests DO observe rate at which AustralianDroseracloses.
On detection of nitrogen in organic fluids.
Lists of nitrogenous organic fluids that produce contraction inDrosera, and details of how to reproduce results.
His results with pure gum onDrosera spathulataentirely support CD’s opinion. Other observations on insectivorous plants.
Has read sheets of AG’s thirdAtlantic Monthlyarticle [Oct 1860] and praises it and AG’s other reviews and articles highly.
Is surprised at the inability of others to grasp the meaning of natural selection.
Has been testing the sensitivity ofDrosera, which he finds remarkable.
Asks if AG will be able to make some observations on orchids for him.
Thinks he has worked out simple mechanism of movement inDrosera. Believes he is correct that gum has no effect.
Thanks for Trécul paper ["Organisation des glandes pédicellées de la feuille duDrosera rotundifolia",C. R. Hebd. Acad. Sci.40: 1355–8;Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.)3d ser. 3: 303–11].
Chloroform paralyses plants in 30 seconds.
Has been observingDrosera. Asks JSH whether a curious motion in the red fluid poured out from the viscid hairs is a known or common phenomenon. It surprised him, but he is "so ignorant of vegetable physiology".
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