Summary

Is studying Variation, especially Pangenesis. Reports earlier notion of Dr Robert Lee, that resemblance between husband and wife may be partly owing to her having man’s blood circulating in her during pregnancies; thus spouses most resemble each other in large families.

Summary

Believes he has found a quiet cob suitable for CD. Encloses a letter for CD to sign and send to the owner if he approves the idea.

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Will collect the "precious animal" [deerhound puppy] from King’s Cross.

Thanks GC for information on the perch.

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Sends drawings of atypical Geranium and honeysuckle pollen-grains. Would they produce variation in seedlings?

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Sends a copy of Notes and Queries for Francis Galton, as it contains a reply to Galton’s circular on hereditary genius.

RS much refreshed by his trip to Down.

Summary

Encloses his letter to GJ [6885], which was returned.

Summary

Experiments with Lapageria.

Summary

Experiments are not going well, but the quantity of blood transfused was small.

Summary

Variety in rabbits less than he hoped for; will try a new mode of transfusion.

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Thanks TTTT for his study of European spiders [On European spiders Part 1 (1869–70)] which bases its classification system on the theory of evolution.

Summary

Sends his "Charles Darwin, eine biographische Skizze" [Das Ausland 2 Apr 1870].

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Comments on WP’s biographical article on CD. Asks him to thank O. F. Peschel for his present of the publication [Das Ausland 2 Apr 1870].

Summary

Thanks AS for his kindness towards himself and his family. Looks back with great satisfaction to his last visit ("as it will probably prove") to Cambridge.

Summary

Asks to have observations made of a person retching violently, but ejecting nothing from stomach, in order to test relation between spasmodic contraction of orbicular muscles and tears. CD believes tears are caused by matter filling nostrils.

Summary

Two, perhaps all three, doe [rabbits] are sterile after the transfusions; will try another method.

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Thanks for Trox beetles which have been forwarded [to London], but unfortunately CD has no microscope here. Is "in despair how to observe them … they sham dead" and are not inclined to stridulate.

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Discusses the Census Bill and CD’s attempt to get questions on consanguineous marriage added to the census.

Summary

Is glad John Lubbock made the fight he did [to amend Census Bill to enable insertion of questions on consanguineous marriages].

Summary

Regrets he is unable to correct his "little manual" ["Geology" in Manual of scientific enquiry (1849)]. Recommends that John Phillips revise it.

Summary

A recommendation for George Cupples who has applied for a government pension: "I have corresponded with him on scientific subjects during several years. On some very intricate points he has been so kind as not only to collect, at the cost of much trouble, information from various sources, but has likewise made for me valuable observations".