Summary

Instructions on paying a bill.

Summary

Responds to CP’s sermon. Corrects CP’s confusion of what CD said about eyes of the Articulata with human eye,

and questions applicability of CP’s mathematical arguments about length of geological time needed for evolution.

Agrees he was foolish about the Wealden, now struck from later editions [Origin, pp. 285–7].

Summary

Thanks for references for his Naudin–hybridism paper [see 5029].

Summary

Will be glad to see JDH at Down.

Summary

Comments on CWvN’s Die Entstehung und Begriff [der Naturhistorischen Art (1864)].

Discussion of beauty of flowers in new edition of Origin not based on CWvN’s article.

Comments on CWvN’s argument that flower structures are not due to natural selection.

Summary

Sends his observations on sterility of Eschscholzia,

on Oxalis,

and on recently found dimorphic plants.

Sends specimen of Hedyotis [see Forms of flowers, p. 133].

Summary

Gustav von Leonhard and Hans Bruno Geinitz’s Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie [1862–79] unfriendly to CD’s theory.

Lists various German publications dealing with CD’s theory.

Summary

Returns proofs of GH’s paper ["On hybridization among plants", Pop. Sci. Rev. 5 (1866): 304–13] with his criticisms. Prefers that GH not state that CD has read the proofs.

Does C. V. Naudin really say that ovules (not seed) of hybrid Luffa and Cucumis are imperfect?

Summary

Has had the blocks cut as requested and forwards the proofs.

Encloses article on habits of jungle fowl.

Summary

"… Mr Herbert Spencer. I will call tomorrow about half past 12".

Summary

Plants arrived.

Delightful dinner at Lyell’s.

Will be interested in seeds passed through a fowl.

Wedgwood medallions were bought by a Miss W. [Sophy Wedgwood] of Leith Hill.

Lubbock’s account of a new centipede at Linnean Society gave rise to lively discussion by Busk and Huxley.

Summary

Blocks for Variation are much improved. WBT deserves membership in Zoological Society.

Summary

More comments on proofs [of CL’s Principles of geology, 10th ed.]. Discusses permanence of continents and other points.

Refers to passage describing evaporation of snow in Journal [of researches, pp. 277–8].

Cites astronomers’ views on increasing length of day.

Summary

Sends clipping about a pig that has cast its outer skin.

Identifies himself as having a year or two ago pointed out a passage from Aristotle showing that natural selection was known to the ancients.

Summary

Asks for CD’s opinion of the manner of migration of the eye of flatfish.

Summary

Caspary wants to visit Down. CD would like to see him but dreads the exertion.

Pleased that JDH will get D.C.L. at Oxford.

Summary

Gives his opinion on the ancestry of domestic ducks, geese, and guinea-fowl.

Summary

Forgot to thank CD for his praise of tendril paper [see 4944].

Summary

Thanks for information. Sclater was source of statement about Numida ptiloryncha [as origin of guinea-fowl] in The poultry book [pt 12 (Dec 1866): 288].

Summary

Thanks for criticism of proofs of his paper [see 5117].

Not sure whether CD believes in reversion and would like a positive statement as this is the one point C. V. Naudin especially observed. Naudin offers his remarks on ovules as a matter to be proved ["Nouvelles recherches sur l’hybridité", Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. 1 (1865): 25–176].