Summary

Wants to see Huxley tomorrow, but knows he is going down to High Elms to see Colenso.

Summary

Accepts CD’s suggestion of new edition of Descent, and asks that Murray supply the stereotype plates and woodcuts for $50 [dollars or pounds!?], as soon as possible; supply of copies of Descent is exhausted.

Will publish CD’s proposed book [Insectivorous plants (1875)] on same terms as other works.

Summary

Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.

Summary

Is pleased that CD found the letters from Bell’s Weekly Messenger to the point.

Encloses extracts relating to benefits derived by animals from altered conditions of life.

Encloses notes on deterioration of short-horns from inbreeding. Breeders agree with him on benefits of introducing fresh blood into inbred stocks.

Summary

Reports the death of Francis’ wife, Amy.

Summary

Sends photograph of epileptic idiot and encloses case history.

Summary

Sends publication details of Coral reefs, which he thinks is now only available in Geology of the ‘Beagle’: Geological observations on coral reefs, volcanic islands, and on South America.

Summary

Would like to know the results of CD’s Utricularia experiments.

A Brazilian love-bird, escaped from captivity, has been found in a robin’s nest, apparently starved to death along with three young robins.

Summary

Sends his screed about the brain [for Descent], which he thinks pounds the enemy into a jelly.

Is in good health.

Summary

Is not inclined to restrain himself from expressing his opinion of Mivart. Huxley’s article in Academy.

Summary

Further detailed comments on Geographical distribution.

Base treatment [of George Darwin] by Mivart in Quarterly Review [137 (1874): 40–77].

Summary

Sends birthday greetings

and the good news of a subvention for the Zoological Station received from the German government. There are now 20 naturalists working at the Station.

Summary

Has met Capt. George Strong Nares of the Challenger expedition at Huxley’s.

Huxley much at a loss to explain red clay at deep sea-bottom.

Summary

Assures CD that space will be reserved in the April Contemporary Review for W. D. Whitney’s article and solicits an introductory section from C.D.

Summary

Belated birthday greetings

and reminiscences of CD’s help to the Station, which continues to prosper. A recent innovation is the establishment of the Zoologische Jahresbericht edited by J. V. Carus.

Summary

Suggests the recipient catch the 4.12 train.

Summary

Suggests revisions in proofs of Erasmus Darwin.

[Letter wrongly dated Nov by LD.]

Summary

THN, a medium with a gift to cure occult diseases, outlines a course of treatment to remedy CD’s ailments.

Summary

[Reference to Japanese nuthatch (see Descent, 2d ed., p. 410 n.) excised from letter.]

Sorry they will not have Frank Darwin with them any more.

Summary

CD’s son is considering translating into English HHHvZ’s notes in Dutch edition of Expression; HHHvZ feels his notes to Descent would be of more interest.