Acknowledges CD’s letter about alpine entomology of Tierra del Fuego; discusses geographical distribution; urges CD to make a chart of vegetable and geological distribution of insects. Advises him on species to collect and assures him of all assistance in describing his captures on his return.
Tells of founding of Entomological Society, and enrolls CD.
News of J. F. Stephens’ lawsuit and continuation of hisIllustrations of British entomology[1827–46]. Praises general state of zoological science in England.
On fossils ([Megatherium], etc.), plants, shells sent and new ones found; geological observations. Asks for help in understanding cleavage and planes of deposition.
A new species of ostrich. Cites differences in size, colour, nidification, and geographical distribution.
Replies to CD’s letter [250], giving news of himself and mutual friends.
Sends CD large beetles from Chiloé.
Describes an earthquake at Caucague.
Gives exact location and measurements of two blocks of granite; has seen and heard of others; will report if he surveys the Potrero on Chiloé.
Thanks JSH for copies of "Extracts from letters addressed to Professor Henslow by C. Darwin, Esq." [privately printed for Cambridge Philosophical Society;Collected papers1: 3–16].
The family is sensible how much CD owes to JSH, and RWD is highly gratified by CD’s success.
CD’s fame is spreading: she quotes Henslow ["Letters to Professor Henslow" (1835),Collected papers1: 3–16], and a passage in theAthenæum.
Adds news of family and friends.
The Royal College of Surgeons’ Board of Curators approve the terms and conditions under which CD has offered his S. American fossil bones to the College, and have sent their recommendation to the Council.
Plans to apply to Government for assistance with publishingZoology.
Robert Brown has taken an interest in the fossil woods.
CD is at work on his journal. Has not begun his geologyyet. Has seen much of Lyell.
Questions on breeding of plants: variation in established versus new varieties; predominance of wild species and old varieties when crossed with newer forms; predominance of males versus females; correlations between ease of hybridisation and tendency to vary and undergo cultivation; reversion; correlations between hybridisation and geographic distribution.
In WH’sAmaryllidaceae[1837], does he intend to say crossing is inimical to fertility?
[Sent via J. S. Henslow; note to amanuensis Syms Covington.]
Replies to CD’s questions on plant hybridisation and laws of inheritance. Rejects predominant transmission of characters by established forms. Males show predominance, but congeniality of parents’ constitution to climate and soil more important. No correlation between hybridisation and variability, cultivation, and geographical distribution. Rejects reversion.
Describes experiments inHippeastrumin which pollen from another species proved more fertile than plant’s own pollen.
Did not intend to say that crossing is inimical to fertility.
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