Summary

Thanks RT for letter which saves him from a "terrible mistake": that no moths were more brilliantly coloured beneath than above. Suggests revised version for comment. [See Descent 1: 397.]

Summary

Approves CD’s revision on coloration of moths.

Impressed with apparent adverse tendencies: one toward sexual selection, the other toward protection.

Summary

Defers visit [to Kew] because of ill health.

Summary

Thanks for criticism of his paper [on Variation].

If external conditions induce variability, what is the internal cause?

Does not agree with Duke of Argyll that "Origin of Species" is an incorrect term.

Sees playfulness of animals as a mark of the Deity’s creative playfulness.

Will visit soon.

Summary

On the proportion of sexes in moths; Lepidoptera females command higher prices; quotes Staudinger’s catalogue [see Descent 1: 311–12].

Ticking of Anobium tessellatum [see Descent 1: 385].

Summary

On various subjects related to sexual selection: preferences, proportion of sexes. [See Descent 2: 117–18, 122.]

Summary

Recognition of colour by animals.

Summary

Asks WED to observe blushing in the blind, and yawning.

Mentions elephants’ crying while trumpeting.

Summary

Thanks for Variation.

Complains of a severe facial neuralgia.

He is planning to build an experimental laboratory in the south.

Summary

Blushing in boys blind from birth. Has got information from R. H. Blair, the principal of a college for the blind.

Summary

Now understands importance of swim-bladder in selachians. Always imagined animal like Lepidosiren was parent form of vertebrates.

Has been nearly a month in London, collecting facts on sexual selection from breeders and at Zoological Gardens.

Astonished at hybrid of rabbit and hare. Is it certain that work was done with hare?

Summary

Clarifies his earlier query on Bell’s observations. Seeks confirmation of Bell’s statement that the conjunctiva of a child whose eyes are opened forcibly during a screaming fit become engorged with blood. CD has noted a relationship between contraction of the orbicular muscle and secretion of tears; can WB explain why they appear related?

Summary

His impression is that male rats outnumber females. Males are pugnacious and polygamous. Gives details of the inheritance of colour in a colony he kept.

Summary

Sends CD his book [Naturalist on the China Sea (1868)].

Summary

Sexual behaviour of chaffinches.

Numbers of female linnets in September.

His experiments on brightly coloured larvae [as food], testing A. R. Wallace’s theory.

His observations of a rookery make him wonder whether it may not be more difficult than we think for birds to pair.

Summary

Glad to hear that WP defends species transmutation. German support is the chief reason to hope that their views will prevail.

Summary

Thanks for gift of work on the geology of the Novara expedition

Summary

Note on sexual differences in Monacanthus.

Summary

On the relative size of sexes in aculeate Hymenoptera. [See Descent 1: 347–8.]

Summary

Instructions for woodcuts showing sexual differences in beetles, for Descent.