Summary

Believes Portuguese habit of removing tails of pointers is responsible for birth of some tailless dogs.

Summary

On development of horns in fawns of fallow deer.

Summary

Thanks JP for his book Vesuvius [1869].

Summary

Thanks CC for two memoirs [see 6575. The other was possibly "Die Cypris-ähnliche Larve der Cirripedien", Schr. Ges. Beförd Naturw. Marburg (1869)].

Haeckel is too enthusiastic and too bold in drawing conclusions.

CD sees no reason to add to what he says on isolation, in new edition of Origin.

Lists specimens he has available for CC’s intended study of metamorphoses of Lepas.

Summary

Argues that [general variability] of species, not single variations or sports, is basis for modification and adaptation to new conditions.

Summary

DF’s opinion of Gustav Jenzsch’s book [Mikroskopische Flora und Fauna (1868)]. Encloses extract of a letter from Ferdinand Zirkel also mentioning Jenzsch’s work.

Summary

Returns book with thanks. "Joyfully accepts" idea of the warming of Southern Hemisphere during glacial period in the Northern. Lyell is unwilling.

Mentions H. N. Moseley’s study of descent of glaciers [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 17 (1869): 202–8].

CD greatly troubled by problem of age of the earth and calculations of Sir William Thomson. Asks about changes in the form of the globe.

Summary

Requests authorisation to translate Journal of researches into French.

Summary

Does not fact that characters important in systematics are often of no use, corroborate CD’s view that such characters, if not detrimental, may persist ad infinitum?

Social news.

Summary

Sends a letter from Capt Forrest, recommending a Mr Knight.

Summary

Criticises details of style and tone in Origin [5th ed.].