Summary

Wishes he had known of atropia and hopes he will have time to try it next summer.

Summary

Asks for a specimen of Pinguicula.

Summary

Has some Utricularia minor for CD. Has found the bladders on U. vulgaris are not floats.

Thanks CD for book [Descent, 2d ed.].

Summary

Suggests experiments to try [with Nepenthes]. Asks JDH to test whether cabbage seeds and peas exposed to the ferment germinate.

Summary

Has had a nice stay with William, who is charming but rather languid and cannot read to himself.

Love to Amy [Darwin] and Mrs Ruck.

Summary

Asks WED to visit Winchester soon and collect Utricularia for him

Summary

Has "given the slip" to Nepenthes, but is setting a plant up in an enclosure for special observation.

Has some splendid Sarracenia and will perform any miracle regarding them CD puts him up to.

Charmed with CD’s account of Pinguicula. Would like to try whether Lychnis has the same use of viscid fluid.

Has written for English Utricularia for CD.

Summary

Describes leaf movements of Pinguicula and Drosera in capturing prey. Notes effects of ammonium carbonate on leaves.

Summary

Cobra poison is a stimulant to protoplasm. Poison acts very differently on cilia and protoplasm of Drosera.

Summary

Thinks Frank and he have worked out Pinguicula well and they long to attack Utricularia. Tried several plants with sticky glandular hairs; some few absorb ammonia, but the greater number do not. If JDH sends plant or seed of Lychnis CD will examine it to see whether it catches many flies. Asa Gray has written him much about Sarracenia, with a specimen showing the splendid dodge by which ground insects are enticed up and then drowned. Describes how it may be investigated, to see whether it absorbs decayed matter from flies, or ammonia thus generated.

Summary

Sends results of his observations on Nepenthes. Would be grateful for any hints for further observations.

Summary

It would be interesting to prove that some plants feed on decayed animal matter whilst others like Drosera can digest fresh animal matter. Suggests the method for observing this.

Summary

Suggests experiment involving cobra poison on white corpuscles. Thanks for offer of Crotalus poison.

Summary

Will do experiments CD suggests.

Is sending his book on the poisonous snakes of India [The Thanatophidia of India (1872)].

Summary

Thanks for the Pinguicula plants, which have recovered, and asks if he could also send Utricularia, since his other supplies have failed.

Summary

Asks about the effect of atropine on the eye. Is interested in parallel case: influence of phosphate of ammonia on glands of Drosera.

Summary

Thanks for proofs [of Descent, 2d English ed.].

Publisher would like better photographs for Expression [2d German ed.].

Summary

The appetite of Nepenthes for hard-boiled egg is prodigious.

Summary

Sends quotation from R. C. Virchow which contravenes CD’s statement in Expression that there is no voluntary control of the iris.

Summary

Advises JVC on how his publisher might deal with problem of getting satisfactory heliotype copies for 2d [German] edition of Expression.

Regrets that he will again be away in August, when JVC might have come for a visit.