Summary

Encloses reply to Butler [Kosmos 8 (1881): 321–2]. Has also written a reply intended for English reader. Will have it translated for Popular Science Review if CD thinks suitable.

Report of Jäger accident was an error.

Kosmos has been purchased by Eduard Koch in Stuttgart and will continue as in the past.

Summary

Reports the observations of Thomas Bridges on the Fuegian natives. Discusses especially the languages of the area.

Summary

Butler’s reply to EK is a renewed attack on CD. Urges EK not to answer it. His last letter contains everything necessary. Asks EK for dates of CD’s letter asking EK’s permission to publish a translation of his article [on Erasmus Darwin] and of the letter in which he told EK that Butler’s book had been advertised.

Summary

Suggests an errata slip for preface to Erasmus Darwin would correct the inaccurate statement regarding publication of Butler’s Evolution old and new.

Summary

PG’s article in Encyclopaedia Britannica wonderfully well done ["Insectivorous plants", 9th ed., 13: 134–40].

Admires PG’s researches on chlorophyll in animal kingdom ["Observations on the physiology and histology of Convoluta Schultzii", Proc. Roy. Soc. Lon. 28 (1878–9): 449–57].

Summary

Discusses vivisection and contradicts CD’s defence of English physiologists.

Summary

Birthday greetings.

Thinks it best not to reply further to Butler. Has read G. J. Romanes’ article with great pleasure. Romanes is right to ridicule Butler. Quotes passages about Butler from CD letters. Has received letter from F. M. Balfour urging him not to reply to Butler.

Summary

Discusses colour changes of plant colouring material.

Is doing much marine work from his yacht; asks whether CD has any suggestions for profitable observations.

Summary

Has written to Balfour concerning the Butler affair.

Summary

Thanks him for his letter in Nature [23 (1880–1): 336, concerning Samuel Butler’s Unconscious Memory]. Explains how revision in Krause’s part [of Erasmus Darwin] and the subsequent misunderstanding came about.

Summary

Gives an account of the Syracuse Botanical Club and its activities.

Summary

Seeks R. B. Litchfield’s advice about publishing a translation of a letter and article by E. Krause [answering Samuel Butler’s Unconscious memory].

Summary

The Darwin family cannot agree on what CD should do about Butler’s charges [in Unconscious memory]. CD has commissioned HEL to ask LS’s advice. She sends an account of the affair with background materials.

Summary

About Francis Darwin’s application for election to [Royal] Society.

Summary

Thanks for Movement in plants. Praises the terms CD introduces, but criticises CD’s use of the teleological word "purpose".

Outlines his efforts to study the inheritance of characters in his family. F. Galton overemphasises the inheritance of good qualities.

Summary

Discusses allegation [about Erasmus Darwin] made by Samuel Butler. Will value LS’s verdict highly.

Summary

Thanks JW for book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. Discusses movement in plants.

Summary

Comments on CVR’s paper [‘Further notes on the pollination of Yucca and on Pronuba and Prodoxus’, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. (1880): 617–39]. ‘What an inaccurate man Mr Thomas Meehan is.’ Interested in further observations on Pronuba.

Summary

Thanks for Evolutionist at large [1881]. Envies GA’s power of writing. Some statements are too bold, but several of the views are new to CD and seem "extremely probable".

Summary

Has received WBT’s fine work [Edward Blyth, The natural history of the cranes, enlarged and reprinted by WBT (1881)].