Summary

Has arranged for publication of his translation of Weismann.

S. H. Scudder article on sexual dimorphism in butterflies [Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. 12 (1877): 150–8].

Summary

GH no longer believes in the value of cross-fertilisation in plants.

Summary

Wishes to subscribe to RM’s translation of Weismann.

Has seen Scudder’s article.

A. R. Wallace’s article ["Animals and their native countries", Nineteenth Century 5 (1879): 247–59] is excellent.

Summary

H. N. Moseley says [in "Notes on plants collected and observed at the Admiralty Islands", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 15 (1877): 77] pigeons eject seeds in fit state for germination. He regards pigeons as providing most efficient means of transport in Malayan Archipelago.

CD’s collected notes on geographical distribution would make a good book.

Summary

Are modifications in human form and intellect due solely to natural selection or do altered external conditions also play a role?

Summary

Sends birthday wishes.

Comments on progress of CD’s theory in Germany. Mentions opposition of Rudolf Virchow and his reply Freie Wissenschaft und freie Lehre [1878].

Describes research trip to Brittany and Normandy.

Research on Challenger Radiolaria.

Summary

Statement of U.S. sales of CD’s works.

Summary

Sends his article ["Diseases of the rectum", Cincinnati Lancet & Obs. 21 (1878): 224–41] through his friend, Dr Letcher.

Summary

Second edition of Edmond Barbier’s revised translation of Origin selling out; third one to be published.

A new edition of Variation, virtually retranslated by Barbier, is in press.

Second edition of Descent selling out.

CD’s botanical books are losing money.

Summary

Thanks for criticisms of Colour-sense.

Clarifies his views that actions desirable for species result in development of nervous organs capable of pleasurable stimulation.

Believes that all "tastes" occurring in nature are explicable with reference to ancestral habits and that none is purely arbitrary.

Summary

Thanks for second edition of Duchartre.

Summary

Praises CD’s biography of Erasmus Darwin;

asks CD to answer some queries he is circulating. Is particularly interested in "visualizing faculty" in CD and Dr Darwin.

Summary

Congratulations on Erasmus Darwin; likes CD’s part better than Ernst Krause’s.

Received false notice of Asa Gray’s death.

Gray and JDH engaged in comparing widely separated but floristically similar regions.

Summary

In response to CD’s query, discusses sleep movements of plants. Recommends papers on subject.

Summary

Contributes to subscription for Grant Allen.

Regrets GJR and wife could not visit.

Encloses paper [not identified] by Thomas Meehan, a very inaccurate observer.

Summary

Notes advertisement of Tito Vignoli, Fundamentalgesetz der Intelligenz im Thierreiche [1879].

Summary

Comments on HNM’s book [Notes by a naturalist on the "Challenger" (1879)].

Summary

Thanks for AW’s work ["Zur Naturgeschichte der Daphniden", Z. Wiss. Zool. 27: 51–112; 28: 93–254; 30 (suppl.): 123–65; 33: 55–270]. CD always interested in adaptations which appear to owe their structure to other causes.

Has not heard from Raphael Meldola for a long time about translation of AW’s Studien.

Summary

Has received printed sheets from CD. Hopes CD does not intend to delete anything. EK comments on value of his own sketch for Erasmus Darwin.

Hopes CD can excuse article he wrote in response to a review of Grant Allen’s book [The colour-sense (1879)].

Summary

Thanks for AG’s trouble about the seeds. Is curious to see their germination and the early seedling growth.

Asks for cotton seeds, as he observes odd movements of the cotyledon.