Summary

Sends an enclosure [a letter from T. F. Jamieson, see 3247].

"I am smashed to atoms about Glen Roy. My paper was one long gigantic blunder."

Summary

Has modified the statements about bees visiting clover for honey in 3d ed. of Origin. Can correspondent find out if clover in Lowestoft district was a second crop?

Summary

GR’s letter is a gold-mine.

Pleased to have Pierre Gratiolet’s comment on the embryology of greatly modified organs

and GR’s valuable cases of analogous variation.

Doubts craniologists, but recounts his father’s opinion that the shape of CD’s head was altered when he returned from the Beagle.

Summary

Requests orchid specimens from Arethuseae division for his investigation of the many contrivances by which orchids are fertilised by insect agency.

Asks whether Charles Morren has published on the fertilisation of orchids by insect agency.

Summary

Two correspondents report fertilising Vinca rosea by imitating the action of an insect inserting its proboscis. Another says his Vinca rosea seed profusely without artificial fertilisation. CD asks what might explain the difference in results. In the latter instance, are the plants kept in a greenhouse with windows left open, so that moths could get access at night?

Summary

The Primula experiments of J. Sidebotham; HCW’s distrust of the results [see J. Sidebotham, "Specific identity of the cowslip and the primrose", Phytologist 3 (1849): 703–5].

Summary

Mention of Volucella.

Summary

Thanks for gift of treatise on Coelenterata [? Manual of the sub-kingdom Coelenterata (1861)]. "… I was but lately wishing to read some treatise up to the present mark, on these animals. I have cut the pages & can clearly see that your work will much interest & instruct me".

Summary

Requests the names of the parents of Gladiolus gandavensis and six varieties for the purpose of determining their probable origin.

Summary

Offers to publish Orchids, giving CD one-half of the profits of each edition.

Summary

Would like capsule of Epipactis palustris. Asks for information.

Summary

List of Australian plants that have become naturalised in the Nilgiris [India] and are turning out the native trees.

Summary

Has put Drosera off while amusing himself with Primula and orchids.

Dionaea is prettily adapted to weight detection.

Summary

Absence of organic remains in many deposits.

Discusses presence of marine animals near icebergs.

Comments on former geological state of England.

Summary

Additional discussion of Jamieson’s theory that the roads of Glen Roy were formed by a glacial lake. Suggests the possible marine origin of the Glen Spean terraces. Comments on the power of lakes to produce pebbles. Discusses elevation of Wales and Scotland during the glacial period.

Summary

Is certain he never had Morren’s paper from JOW or heard of it before JOW’s note; will write to Gardeners’ Chronicle about it [see 3252].

Thanks for the two Sphinx moths; unfortunately the pollen-masses do not belong to orchids but to Asclepias.

Asks whether R. B. Todd’s Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology [1835–59] has an article on fertilisation of orchids.

Summary

Discusses CL’s correspondence with T. F. Jamieson. Comments on Jamieson’s theory that the roads of Glen Roy were formed by a glacial lake. Discusses elevation of Scotland during the glacial period.

Summary

Is interested in cases of dimorphism like Primula. Discusses Primula and Linum.

Summary

After much crossing, has worked out meaning of dimorphism in Primula.

Summary

Thanks JM for his liberal offer [to publish Orchids]. CD fears the public will not be interested, but thinks it will "do good to the Origin as it will show that I worked hard on details and it will perhaps serve [to] illustrate how Natural History may be worked under the belief of the modification of Species".