Summary

Thanks CD for account of F. A. Pouchet’s experiments. Cannot yet dispute his conclusions.

Continues experiments on the colour of goldfish as affected by light and presence of plants.

Summary

Will look for worm-castings in the cloisters,

and will send CD items from the Cambridge papers on the honorary degree.

Has hit on a possible fallacy in W. Thomson’s theory of secular cooling of the earth.

Summary

A letter from CD’s admirers in the Netherlands, sent with an album of their photographs, in celebration of his sixty-eighth birthday.

Presents an account of early efforts in the Netherlands in the direction of developmental theories, and evidence of the support and enthusiastic reception given CD’s theory.

Summary

Sends details of H. H. R. Koch’s work on bacteria, including first photographs.

J. S. Burdon Sanderson’s and Koch’s collaboration on systemic fever.

Thinks movement of Francis Darwin’s Dipsacus filaments is an artifact.

Summary

Galton agrees with GJR about rudimentary organs.

GJR’s note referred to possibility of selection acting on organic types as distinguished from individuals.

Thinks Grant Allen has not made out his point [in Physiological aesthetics (1877)], but his fundamental principle probably has much truth.

Summary

Lectured on Darwinism in Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Buffalo, and to 3500 people in New York City.

Despite close friendship with Cope and Hyatt and many explanations by the latter, he cannot understand their views.

Thanks CD for appreciation of his papers.

Summary

States that the sheep of the Cape will produce twins only when herbage is plentiful before rutting-time.

Makes some observations on bustards and baboons.

Summary

Encloses specimens of milk-weed with trapped insects. Indian hemp catches insects in the same way but with less success.

Summary

All young intelligent French naturalists support CD. But the professors are afraid of being called materialists, atheists, or communists.

A paper of his ["Sur l’origine paléontologique", C. R. Hebd. Acad. Sci. 84 (1877): 534–7] met with silence, except from Bureau. If only France had become Protestant!

Summary

Answers CD’s query about number of copies of Origin recently printed. Order to print 2000, rather than 1000, was given after JM’s annual sales showed demand was keeping up.

Cross and self-fertilisation will be stereotyped after CD’s corrections have been made.

Printer will be asked to keep type of Forms of flowers standing, for the present.

Summary

Sends MS notes on intercrossing.

Describes different reactions of rabbits and guinea-pigs to stinging nettles.

Has made a number of grafts at Kew.

Encloses notes on natural selection; discussion of factors mitigating the swamping influence of intercrossing on incipient variations.

Summary

He has defended Tyndall, CD, and others against attacks of a clergyman.

Summary

Writes of his observations on the "valves of Houston" in the rectum, which he believes to be rudimentary organs.

Summary

Reports on his work. Relationships of shells found at Steinheim; attempts to elucidate the genesis of different forms.

Summary

Another issue of Origin will be needed for Murray’s annual sale. Has CD any corrections?

Summary

Gives a detailed description of the "Colorado Giant" found near Pueblo, alleged to be a fossil man with a tail. [See also 11272.]

Summary

Sends paper on Greek plants.

Summary

Reprint of Origin will bring number to 19500 – so title-page may safely read "Twentieth Thousand".

Summary

Was CD already convinced of evolution when he published Journal of researches?

Photograph album will be late coming.

Evolutionary magazine to appear in March under title of Kosmos.