Summary

Relates a variety of facts about sexual selection in birds. [See Descent 2: 104–5.]

Summary

Arranges to call on WRG.

Summary

Asks AG for details of variation in patterning of the banded snake.

Summary

CD relays the advice of Sir W. R. Grove on the dismal prospects of a law career.

Summary

Returns George Darwin’s criticisms of his notes on sterility and sends further notes in reply. Since there are degrees of sterility between varieties, "is it not probable that natural selection can accumulate these variations?" Varieties that are adapted to new conditions could then survive and form new species without being isolated.

Summary

Experiments to test Wallace’s theory that brightly coloured caterpillars are rejected by birds. [See Descent 1: 417.]

Summary

Discusses law versus engineering and business as a career.

Supposes ARW will have "squashed" GHD’s criticisms of his notes on sterility.

Summary

Detailed notes on secondary sexual differences in various species of birds and mammals.

Summary

Has found EB’s MS most interesting and valuable. Fully half the facts were new to him; will probably use some.

Summary

Gives his opinion on a business transaction involving WED and the Southampton bank.

Summary

American publishers will not wait for woodcuts, so asks Murray to have a copy of the reprint sent to Asa Gray. Will call soon to talk about Für Darwin and to hear about sale of latest edition of Origin

Summary

Sexual preference in insects;

structures for seizing females;

coloration.

Doubts whether CD can make much of a case from insects in support of sexual selection.

Summary

He and Lizzie [Elizabeth Darwin] will come to Kew on Saturday.

Summary

French translation of Variation has just appeared. Copies sent to Quatrefages de Bréau, C. V. Naudin, A. J. Gaudry, Camille Dareste, and Ernest Faivre.

Summary

Blushing in South American Indians.

Hairlessness of Aymaras and Quechuas. [See Descent 2: 322–3.]

Summary

Coloration in moths.

Quotes Achille Guénée on relative proportion of sexes in Phalaenites.

Summary

Proportions of sexes in birds as reported by bird-catchers.

Summary

Thanks CD for advice received before his Novara voyage. Sends volumes [Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde … Geologischer Theil, ed. FCvH, 2 vols. in 3 (1864–6)].

Summary

There are so many doubtful points on the problems relating to sterility that they will never agree.

Summary

Thanks for information [about sex ratios] received from bird-catchers.

"Can you form any theory about all the many cases which you have given me and others which have been published, of when one pair is killed, another soon appearing?"

Facts about gay-coloured caterpillars very satisfactory.

Comments on Pangenesis.