Summary

Receiving notes on inbreeding from T. T. Wright, who has long experience with the subject.

Reports six-toed pup.

Summary

Asks about coat colour of elk,

the mane of American bison,

and about sexual preferences of female deer.

Summary

Sends excerpt on polygamous breeding habits of Asiatic elephants by Lieut. Johnstone [Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal (1868): 128]. [See Descent 1: 268.]

Summary

One of his students is interested in translating Orchids into French.

Summary

Red tape leaves no time for botany.

New ministry laudably attempting economies.

Summary

Repeats request for information on colours of plumage of poultry breeds and asks for WBT’s facts on proportions of sexes.

Summary

Asks JVC to ascertain the age at which merino rams develop horns, and whether they grow faster or more slowly than in other breeds of sheep in which both sexes have horns.

Asks how JVC’s translation [of Variation] has sold.

Summary

Describes experiments to test the fertility of Abutilon, which appears self-sterile,

and briefly mentions dichogamy in Eschscholzia.

Summary

On reading F. Müller’s Facts and arguments for Darwin [1869].

Pangenesis.

Agrees with CD on fascination [of snakes].

Huxley is at Comte again.

Summary

Reports on the differences of growth and development of plants of three species grown at Geneva from seed collected at different localities. Forwards seed for CD to plant and observe differences in development.

Carl Linsseer has published a memoir on the times of flowering, foliation, etc. of diverse species in different parts of Europe [Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg 7th ser. 11 no. 7 (1868)] and concludes that the northern forms are more forward and that this is hereditary. AdeC’s experiments carried out on annuals, show only the effects of heredity; probably the direct action of physical conditions affects development, at least in perennial species.

Summary

Sends CD his pamphlet [Über Landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften (1868)];

expresses his admiration for CD’s work.

Summary

DF’s opinion of Gustav Jenzsch’s book [Mikroskopische Flora und Fauna (1868)]. Encloses extract of a letter from Ferdinand Zirkel also mentioning Jenzsch’s work.

Summary

Glad JTM intends to write a paper. Discusses JTM’s research on Arbutus.

CD’s riding accident.

Summary

Observations on expression and colour of beard and hair in natives of India.

Summary

Observations on expression and variation in Asian peoples: when colour of beard and hair differ, beard is always lighter. Differences in swimming strokes. Polydactylism.

Has just sent Hooker a paper on Sikkim tree-ferns [Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 30 (1875): 1–44, read 1870].

Has had fever since the end of the rains.

Summary

Believes that species or genus may have originated more than once from separate ancestors, i.e., polyphyletically.

Discusses relation of CD’s theory to religion. Has written popular account of CD’s theory in Dutch [Darwin en de Godsdienst (1869)].

Summary

Glad BDW has proved his case on dimorphism of Cynips.

Interested in galls

and BDW’s Cicada articles [Proc. Entomol. Soc. Philadelphia (1864)].

Summary

Thanks for a paper on phyllotaxy.

Summary

Describes the novelties found on his recent expedition to South America sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution.

Wants to dedicate to CD book [The Andes and the Amazon (1870)] which is modelled on Journal of researches.

Summary

Notes sex ratios in Lepidoptera he is breeding.