Summary

Has just received CD’s letter of 12 April [13113]. To answer CD’s query, Heteranthera reniformis is an amphibious plant that grows as well on moist ground as it does in ditches filled with water.

For the past few weeks has been observing Phyllanthus plants that had shown the irregular movement in leaves returning from the positions assumed at night, but none has repeated the irregularity. Perhaps the progeny from the seeds he has collected will inherit the tendency for irregular movement.

Describes his observations of the power of movement in Cassia, Desmodium, and a few other plants.

Paul Mayer has identified seven new species of insects FM found in nine different species of figs.

Summary

Julius von Sachs’s views on stomata seem largely correct, but CD cannot understand how leaves can survive submerged for such long periods.

Has been observing Drosera and concludes that none of the movement of the tentacles is caused by growth.

Suggests observations to show role of pulvinus in leaf movement.

Summary

Discusses a variety of subjects: Cynips, galls, potato bugs,

male Daphnia laying eggs.

His Primula experiment results differ from John Scott’s.

Summary

Thanks FS for his book [Kant und Darwin].

Sends regards to Haeckel.

Summary

Grateful for CD’s approval of Chapters on language.

Is inclined to believe that the races of man were primordially distinct.

Summary

John Scott is gratified at Bentham’s proposal that he become an associate of the Linnean Society.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s Linum paper [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

Has not published much because he would be ignored as a gardener; hence he is looking for a foreign appointment.

Has prepared orchid sterility paper at CD’s suggestion [Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 7 (1863): 543–50].

Summary

Future orders will be highly esteemed.

Summary

Asks whether WSD would be interested in translating Ernst Krause’s article on Erasmus Darwin [Kosmos 4 (1879): 397–424] into English.

Summary

John Scott has arrived in Calcutta and has been given an appointment by Thomas Anderson.

Summary

Will ask Blair for more [goose] wing specimens.

Summary

Approves of type [for Variation]. Pleased to hear from Hooker that he is not surprised that MS is big.

Summary

Note authorising James West to collect Transactions on CD’s behalf.

Summary

Observations on maize.

Summary

Asks JC-B to read CD’s MS on confusion of mind, which often or generally accompanies blushing.

Summary

Thanks TCE for information about breeding

and for his promise to measure feet of otter-hounds [see Variation 1: 39–40].

Summary

Comments on CD’s health.

Discusses origin of life and differentiation of principal classes of plants and animals.

Discusses Generelle Morphologie and its chapter on embryological development.

His lectures on CD’s theory.

Asks CD for larger portrait of himself and for several copies of the small photograph. Will send photographs of German scientists in exchange.

Summary

Sends his MS "The real presence" [on transubstantiation] for CD’s comments.

Summary

Uses of tails of mice. Functions of tails generally.

Summary

Now believes flowers of Fumariaceae must be self-fertilised.

Planning a piece on dimorphism in the Natural History Review ["On the two forms, or dimorphic condition, in the species of Primula … by Charles Darwin", n.s. 2 (1862): 235–43].

Observations on Campanula dimorphism.