Summary

Discusses how Fuegians and other primitive peoples light fires.

Summary

Is sending chapter [of Earthworms] for FD to look over.

Comments on FD’s work on movements of mould.

Is glad to hear about Julius von Sachs and the circumnutation theory.

Summary

Not intended to call vivisection article a symposium [Nineteenth Century 10 (1881): 920–48].

Sympathy on death of Erasmus Darwin.

Trying some experiments with bees to test their direction-finding methods.

Summary

Thinks CGS right not to reply to critical article by Lankester.

Discusses direct action of environment as cause of variability; the finding of Hermann Hoffmann that direct action of environment affects plants very little.

Summary

Comments on the response to Movement in plants, which seems to have been successful.

Is going over revises of Earthworms.

Is investigating further his notion that leaves align themselves in the rain so as to shoot off drops of water.

Summary

Unable to contribute an essay to a symposium on the subject of vivisection. Objects to use of term "symposium".

Mentions articles of Hermann Müller.

Death of his brother Erasmus [26 Aug 1881].

Summary

Is sorry to have involved himself in a priority dispute between Wortmann and Elfving. Intends to publish on circumnutation; will CD send him his notes? Apologises for taking CD’s protractor, will send it back. Has met Oscar Schmidt.

Summary

Has been reading Julius von Wiesner’s book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. Comments that it is "an excellent book, but he vivisects me in the most grievous terms, but most effectively".

Has been experimenting on aggregation of chlorophyll but with little success.

Summary

Comments on GJR’s letter in the Times [25 Apr 1881] concerning vivisection. Mentions activity of anti-vivisectionists, G. R. Jesse and F. P. Cobbe.

Summary

Earthworms is selling well.

Discussed how to repeat some of their plant experiments while in Cambridge.

Comments on Julius Wiesner’s views on plant movement.

S. H. Vines was very much surprised at the action of carbonate of ammonia on the roots of Euphorbia.

Summary

Discusses his election to the Geological Society, worm researches, GHD’s travels, investments,G J Romanes on Samuel Butler, the snow, politics.

Summary

Thanks for two letters from Pfeffer. Will return translation of Pfeffer and send a letter from Elfring. Looking forward to working on "antiWiesner" experiments. Will return on 26th or 27th.

Summary

Has sent FM’s account of Pandanus and Oxalis to Nature ["Leaves injured at night by free radiation", Nature 24 (1881): 459].

Is crossing heterostyled plants.

Hopes to get his notes on bloom together.

Summary

Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.

Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".

Summary

Glad CD approves of diaheliotropic paper. Reports on experiments with Carex and Yucca. Discusses translation of ‘Växtbook’ from Swedish. Heard some excellent music the previous night.

Summary

Comments on WFRS’s book [Properties and motions of fluids (1881)].

Summary

Some papers have arrived for FD.

Comments on the work of Phillipe van Tieghem who evidently knows nothing of insectivorous plants.

Leslie Stephen’s visit to Down went off well.

Summary

Describes seeds sent by George Payne [see 13205]. Is surprised that they bury themselves.

Summary

Urges CD to write on vivisection for Nineteenth Century or suggest a competent scientific author. Forming an association to forward interests of vivisectionists.

Summary

Discusses GJR’s controversy with the Duke [of Argyll] concerning Roux’s book [Der Kampf der Theile im Organismus (1881)].