Summary

Has found the skull of the horned cock.

With regard to CD’s suggestion about the possibility of producing a pigeon breed with differently coloured sexes, WBT reports the results of crossing blue and silver dragons; the silver offspring are almost always hens.

Would like the latest edition of the Origin.

Encloses notes on volume one [of Descent].

Encloses a photograph showing the bleaching effect of the sun’s rays on dun feathers in pigeons.

Summary

More on Ayrton affair. Conduct of Gladstone and the Ministry despicable. They have owned him to be in right but will not raise a finger until exposure in Parliament is imminent.

Summary

Believes many of the species and even genera of the fish family Labyrinthici are products of domestication.

Events at the British Museum.

Summary

Again seeks help with his rabbits; hopes one of CD’s men can take them.

Summary

Send parcel to Orpington station.

Summary

Thanks WALM for having sent interesting publications, especially the one on relation of structure of man to lower animals,

and just a few days since, on protuberances on bird skulls. WALM’s facts on the latter subject have an important bearing on the acquisition of sexual characters. CD is pleased that the influence of sexual selection is admitted.

Summary

AT is trying to publish his paper with important evidence on "the pluvial period".

Summary

Asks recipient to send parcels to his brother, Erasmus Alvey Darwin, at 6 Queen Anne Street, London, and not to Down.

Summary

Sends an account of an attempt to take a sphygmograph tracing of a woman during fright

and some references that might apply to CD’s work on pulse rates during rage and fright.

Summary

Sends publication details of Coral reefs, which he thinks is now only available in Geology of the ‘Beagle’: Geological observations on coral reefs, volcanic islands, and on South America.

Summary

Has not strength or time to hunt for Herminium monorchis; has failed to make orchid seeds germinate.

Summary

Corrects a factual error in his previous letter [8418].

Sends specimens illustrative of the "nodal" question.

Summary

Thanks HF for his essay ["Über den Einfluss der Naturwissenschaft auf das Recht", Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik 18 (1872): 248–77]. CD gives views favouring competition among trades unions and the working classes.

Summary

May FG have lunch with CD Thursday [1 Aug] and arrange about rabbits?

Summary

Sends paper read before Anthropological Institute ["Strictures on Darwinism, pt 1", J. Anthropol. Inst. 2 (1873): 21–40]. CD is his master, though they disagree.

Criticises Wallace’s "contemptuous phrases".

Is studying elevation and subsidence.

Summary

Thanks recipient for information about eye colour of his shepherd dogs.

Summary

Answers CD’s questions on arrangements for forthcoming publication of Expression – including cost of stereotypes, woodcuts, and photo reproductions for foreign translations.

Summary

Thanks OH for two memoirs on the fossil flora of Bear Island and Spitzbergen [K. Svensk. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. 8 (1869) no. 7; 9 (1870) no. 5].

Summary

Will see that the error is corrected in the next reprint.

Summary

Hostility of birds toward others with same colour;

nuptial plumage.

Spiza cyanea and Spiza ciris.