Summary

Instinct in birds; nest-building.

Inheritance of acquired characters.

Summary

Sends CD a copy of a book he has had printed mainly for the interest of his children and grandchildren [later published as Recollections of past life (1872)].

Summary

In addition to the drawing of a caterpillar which CD intends to use,

HWB sends information on differences of colour and pattern between the sexes of species of Papilio.

Argynnis diana and A. sagana have females that are brightly coloured, but these may be cases of protective mimicry.

Summary

Gives the evidence on which he relied for his view, which CD thinks is erroneous, of proportion of sexes in Lepidoptera.

Summary

Sends a cheque for £3 6s. for stereotypes of Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin (F. Müller 1864).

Summary

Has studied Variation with interest.

Cannot quite follow CD on reversion and Pangenesis,

but is amazed at CD’s observations and method.

Comments on varieties of asses, kidney beans, and artichokes.

Summary

Thanks HWB for answering questions.

The MS on Lepidoptera is almost finished and he is glad HWB will read it; he is fearful of mistakes, not being familiar with the subject.

Summary

"Please give Bearer Books for me.–"

Summary

Charles Langstaff on action of muscles in crying. He believes the primary object of the contraction of the orbicularis is to protect the eye from blood.

Blushing on the body.

Summary

Is not surprised that GB cannot digest Pangenesis, but it has been an immense relief to CD in tying together large classes of facts.

Sends names of men writing on crossing of plants. Criticises some French observations. Praises Hildebrand and Federico Delpino.

Sends pamphlets.

CD is experimenting on a large scale on difference in plants raised from self-fertilised and crossed seeds.

F. Hildebrand has produced a graft-hybrid which seems to lend important support to Pangenesis.

Summary

On proportion of sexes;

coloration of sexes in Lepidoptera.

Sexual attraction of female Saturnia carpini.

Summary

His opinion of Pangenesis.

On relative proportion of sexes in marine animals [sthg missing!?] Crustacea.

Sexual differences.

Music of Cicadae.

Summary

Likes WBT’s review [of Variation] in the Field [31 (1868): 309, 350].

Awaits remarks on coloured pigeons and proportion of sexes.

Summary

Thanks CD for gift of Variation.

GB sent copies of his Fisica del globo [1868] to Lyell and the presidents of British scientific societies but has received no acknowledgment; asks CD to check that they received the work. Could CD arrange for a notice of the book to appear in England?

Summary

In response to CD’s letter of 21 April, TE has forwarded the 67 clichés of the woodcuts from Fritz Müller’s work [Für Darwin (1864)]; acknowledges CD’s cheque for £3 6s. in payment.

Summary

Various topics related to sexual selection: sexual differences, sexual preferences, coloration.

Summary

Observations on root-climbers. Variegated and arborescent varieties of Hedera.

[CD’s notes are for his reply, 6165.]

Summary

More on CD’s objections to ARW’s views on protection and natural selection.

Sexual selection.

Summary

Discusses Hildebrand

and criticises Delpino.

Asks to borrow C. K. Sprengel’s Entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur [1793].

Botanists have no explanation of the case of Viola odorata and other showy flowers being sterile while inconspicuous ones bear seed.

Summary

Langstaff has seen no trace of blushing on the body.