Summary

Gives opinion on the merits of Mr [Stephen P. J.] Eng[leheart (Darwin family doctor)]. Believes he would make an excellent county officer if elected to the district office of health.

Summary

Has read Expression, and assures CD some people cry when happy.

Summary

Notes on the shoveller, taken from John Gould’s Birds of Great Britain [1862–73].

Summary

Klein says water ought to be changed daily. Asks to tell G Revalenta shop shut. Klein reports discovery about toads’ ova does not bear on pangenesis.

Summary

Notes headed "Observations on the expression of the emotions".

Summary

Notes referring to passages in Expression [annotated in places by Francis Darwin, presumably when preparing 2d ed.].

Summary

Observations on her pet cat.

Summary

"Sir William Gull has just brought me the enclosed quotations from Chaucer, as illustrations of the closure of the eyes in effort. [In "The Nun’s priest’s tale" in Canterbury tales the fox tricks Chanticleer into crowing, whereupon Chanticleer closes his eyes to make the effort (and gets seized by the fox).] He begs me to send them to you.

I have lately seen a terrier who very distinctly frowns during mental excitement – not always with anger, but often, I think, with anxiety, as in expecting food."

Summary

Describes some behaviour in herring gulls similar to that of sheldrakes as described by CD in Expression [pp. 47–8].

Summary

On expression among Kaffirs and Hottentots.

Summary

Notes on CD’s Expression.

Summary

Cancelled: enclosure to S 9290.

Summary

Asks for certain observations to be made on Drosera and Dionaea.

Summary

CD appreciates the correspondent’s suggestion.

Summary

HA’s paper on leaf arrangement is almost ready; asks CD to communicate it to the Royal Society. Seeks permission to quote from CD’s notes.

Summary

Thanks for copy of Expression. Notes on expression among the Széklers.

Sends a copy of his book of travels in Scotland.

Summary

Reports the case of an idiot in his care who apparently chews his cud.

Summary

Has studied CD’s books and accepts evolution without giving up belief in creation of first forms.

On theory in Descent, suggests offspring of the original [human] progenitor dispersed before a human stage arrived at; this would account for races and languages with no discernible common origin.

Summary

Comments on FG’s article ["Hereditary improvement", Fraser’s Mag. 87 (1873): 116–30]. Finds it "the sole feasible, yet I fear utopian, plan of procedure in improving the human race".

Thanks for rabbits for Balfour.

Mentions reading W. R. Greg’s Enigmas [of life (1872)].

Summary

Asks whether his observations on absorptive powers of glandular hairs of plants are new facts.

Asks for a Drosophyllum.

Comments on Francis Galton’s article in Fraser’s Magazine,

Greg’s Enigmas,

and Alphonse de Candolle’s Histoire des sciences.