Summary

Thanks WTT-D for Drosophyllum seeds.

Summary

Will not sign a petition, for he feels vivisection is essential to the progress of physiology.

Summary

Reginald Darwin’s pleasure at receiving some old family information.

Summary

Has failed with his experiments on aerial roots.

Summary

Starlings seem to share their food. Are they communists as they struggle for their existence?

Describes movement of a caterpillar.

Summary

Sends his autograph to HR for the Galerie internationale [1880].

Summary

Thanks GBNH for a fact about CD’s grandfather [Erasmus Darwin], but he will not be able to use it in his brief notice.

Summary

FD’s experiment shows that caustic does not interfere with the bending of radicles. Believes that the apex is a kind of brain for certain movements, being specialised to receive certain irritations.

Summary

Stresses importance of ensuring that cauterisation of radicles does not, through injury, prevent movement. Plans an experiment to test for "apheliotropism" in certain radicles.

Summary

Heliotropism nomenclature. Apheliotropic mustard roots grow more quickly in dark. Measures growth with microscope as S. H. Vines did in mould. Studying air roots.

FD’s and Stahl’s negative opinion of Sachs.

Summary

CD gives suggestions concerning FD’s experiments on the radicles of roots. Asks him to find out whether J. von Sachs tried beans. Should also try other gramineous plants.

Bernard looking forward to his father’s return.

Summary

Francis wants a copy of a book on "Shakespeare’s merry tales" to present to a friend in Würzburg.

Summary

Sends proofs of his preface [to EK’s Erasmus Darwin], with which he is disappointed. Suggests additions and improvements he would like to make.

Summary

Inquires concerning a possibility of searching old deeds about the Darwin family history.

Summary

F. P. Cobbe called on EAD to present a letter from the Secretary of the Anti-Vivisection Society; she hoped CD might support limiting repetitions of experiments.

Summary

CD has corrected the first proofs [of Erasmus Darwin] and so returns RD’s books. CD is disappointed with his work and fears RD will be also.

Summary

Asks that authoress be thanked for poem. Enjoyed poetry in old days; now cannot read a line.

Delighted that ERL will find time for original investigations.

Summary

Structure of some "very curious" tendrils.

Summary

Pressure paralyses the streaming of protoplasm in the hairs of Tradescantia.

Summary

Has received printed sheets from CD. Hopes CD does not intend to delete anything. EK comments on value of his own sketch for Erasmus Darwin.

Hopes CD can excuse article he wrote in response to a review of Grant Allen’s book [The colour-sense (1879)].