Summary

Is studying Descent.

Raises two questions for CD: on the great percentage of female illegitimate births compared with legitimate,

and on clothing as accounting for hairlessness of humans.

Summary

Sends his new work, Ulteriori osservazioni sulla dicogomia pt 2, fasc. 1.

Has found no nectar in Orchis morio or O. maculata in Italy and has seen no insects visiting the plants.

Gives his observations on cross- and self-fertilisation in cereals.

Summary

Sends some articles on mammals [possibly "On the relations of the orders of mammals", Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 19 (1870): 267–70, and "On the characteristics of the primary groups of the class of mammals", ibid. 20 (1871): 284–306].

He is a disciple, convinced of CD’s theory of evolution and of natural selection.

In the U. S. almost all refuse to recognize natural selection.

Summary

JC-B’s MS most useful.

P. Gratiolet’s observations on contraction and dilation of pupils of eye of a person in extreme terror. Has JC-B ever observed this? Expression has been his hobby-horse for 30 years.

Summary

Sends CD a measure with capacity of 20 oz or 34.65925 cubic inches.

Summary

Sexual selection in deer.

Assemblies of black cocks.

Nests of spotted flycatcher.

Summary

Philosophical Club dinner.

Lyell contradicts W. B. Carpenter on current in Straits of Gibraltar.

James Orton’s report on fossil shells found by L. Agassiz 2000 miles up the Amazon. Their identification disposes of the glacial hypothesis.

No news yet from Gladstone on Ayrton affair.

Summary

Comments on notes by JC-B on relation between blushing and mental disturbance. Asks for further information about blushing. "The single pencil line down this MS is my mark that I have used it once."

Thanks for "dreadful photo of the imbeciles".

Summary

Encloses a letter [missing] from C. Reinwald, publisher of the French edition of Descent [1872].

Vincenzi [of Unione, Turin – publisher of Italian translation] has not yet paid the account.

Summary

Received copy of Descent.

Discusses CD’s comments on EH’s work.

Speculates about reception by press and scientists.

Remarks on sexual selection;

on human relationship to catarrhine apes.

Has rejected offer of chair at Vienna.

Compares Jena to Down.

Describes growth of his salary.

Mentions birth of Emma Haeckel.

A. M. Norman’s collection of calcareous sponges is very valuable.

Summary

Thanks for the report of CLB’s lecture about Descent to the New York Liberal Club on 3 March 1871.

Sends four photographs of himself for the sculptor J. W. A. MacDonald.

Summary

Offers his services for the future.

Working hard at establishing physiology at Cambridge.

Summary

Thanks for presentation copy of Descent.

Summary

Answers CD’s questions.

Reception of Descent. Evolution accepted everywhere; descent of man accepted calmly.

Morocco plans.

Fears for Huxley, who is overworked.

Summary

Believes he has committed an oversight with regard to sexual selection in insects. Cites conclusions of B. T. Lowne, which are similar to GBM’s.

Summary

CD questions ADB on the mode of feeding of geese and on the existence of variations in the structure of the bill; is trying to trace gradations in structure and habits.

Summary

Sends contribution of £5 to Settle Cave Exploration Fund.

Summary

CD apologises for having thought that StGJM’s religious feelings had led him to feel personal animosity towards him. [See 7454.]

He remembers having thought and written that belief in evolution is infinitely more important for science than belief in Natural Selection. For his own part he would have felt little interest in evolution apart from the explanation "in a general manner" of how each organism is so adapted to its conditions.

Summary

Parallel between CD’s account of morality [in Descent], of social instinct preceding selfishness, and Henry Maine’s account of notions of property of a community preceding individual property [in Ancient law (1861)].

Summary

Disagrees with CD and especially with Lubbock and McLennan about communal marriage. [See Descent 2: 361–3.]