Summary

Have received Movement in plants. It will interest not only botanists but zoologists and biologists.

Ten years ago AD-P encountered great opposition when he started teaching Darwinism at Zurich. Now all except old Oswald Heer call themselves Darwinists.

Summary

Thanks CD for his patience and good-nature; does not want a controversial correspondence but wishes to reply to matters in CD’s letter, and does.

Summary

Sends birthday wishes.

Comments on progress of CD’s theory in Germany. Mentions opposition of Rudolf Virchow and his reply Freie Wissenschaft und freie Lehre [1878].

Describes research trip to Brittany and Normandy.

Research on Challenger Radiolaria.

Summary

CD’s election to the French Academy delights GB. Nationalistic prejudices have at last been overcome; congratulates him on what is now universal adoption of his views.

Summary

On the Duke of Argyll and a review of his Reign of law.

Asa Gray’s theological view of variation. God’s role in formation of organisms; JDH’s view of Providence.

Insular and continental genera.

Owen on continuity and ideal types

and on bones of Mauritius deer.

On man.

Summary

Describes his experiments investigating the geotropic responses of radicles.

Summary

Sir George Clerk to be new President of the Zoological Society.

Summary

Overjoyed at the way the newspapers have taken up JDH’s case. The memorial has done great good this way, whatever the wretched Government does. It is enough to make one a Tory. JDH has done a service to all men of science by showing governments that they cannot be trampled on.

Summary

A letter from CD’s admirers in the Netherlands, sent with an album of their photographs, in celebration of his sixty-eighth birthday.

Presents an account of early efforts in the Netherlands in the direction of developmental theories, and evidence of the support and enthusiastic reception given CD’s theory.

Summary

Opposition to EB within the Asiatic Society.

Possibility of establishment of a zoological garden at Calcutta.

Has seen Gallus varius alive for the first time.

Will procure domestic pigeons for CD; could CD pay for them by returning hardy creatures, such as macaws and marmosets, which EB can sell for a high price in India?

Does not recall his authority for genealogy of the asses of Oman. If a genuine wild ass exists EB believes it will be in south Arabia.

Infertility of Irish and Devon red deer.

Details of an unusual species of wild dog.

Fertility of canine hybrids. General tendency toward hybrid sterility.

Has skins of hybrid Coracias and the parent species.

Wide-ranging species; skua found in Europe and Australia, but not in the tropics.

Summary

"We have not a day to lose if our [Vivisection] Bill or our petition is to do any good". Reports on the activities of the opposition and the attitude of politicians on the subject. Believes a meeting with a minister should be arranged and thinks Lord Derby would be a good man. "All will depend on some half-dozen or 9 or 12 men agreeing on the bill."

Summary

Is gratified by EV’s "spirited and able defence" in the article printed in La France [26 April 1878].

Summary

On the changes in plumage of scarlet ibis at the zoo in breeding season.

Summary

Received copy of Descent.

Discusses CD’s comments on EH’s work.

Speculates about reception by press and scientists.

Remarks on sexual selection;

on human relationship to catarrhine apes.

Has rejected offer of chair at Vienna.

Compares Jena to Down.

Describes growth of his salary.

Mentions birth of Emma Haeckel.

A. M. Norman’s collection of calcareous sponges is very valuable.

Summary

Loss of water from leaf surfaces; action of a still air layer.

Proposal for CD’s LL.D.

Summary

Thanks for revisions in 2d ed. of Origin. Suggests correction regarding species numbers in the Tertiary.

Comments on pages of Orchids and problems of German translation.

Believes CD’s theory not yet proven, but that it will finally lead to truth.

Summary

Notes Louis Agassiz’s opinions on CD’s views.

Mating and sexual organs of insects.