Summary

Louis Agassiz’s ill health means AG will not get an answer to CD’s query from him. Suggests CD ask Agassiz’s son, Alexander.

Has no details about the origin of the cat-like behaviour of his dog.

Summary

Sends CD some notes on the habits of the "American Blight Bird" in New Zealand.

Summary

Notes the differences in haemoglobin between species; this proves, to WP, that natural selection does not act only on morphological development.

Remarks on the differences and similarities in the effects of prussic acid on different groups of animals.

Questions CD on his early education and influences.

Summary

Responds to note about the MS [Descent] with great interest and promises to obey his instructions. [See 7124.]

Summary

Transformism explains rudimentary organs, and teratology, which are otherwise inexplicable.

Looking forward to publication of Descent

and CD’s expected book on "Variation in nature" [see Variation 1: 4].

Summary

About a dog she supposes was suckled by a cat, since it washes its face with its paws.

Summary

Hopes CD is coping with the very hard winter.

Summary

"I have received a very large box full of beautiful tea from Russia yesterday … my life is as regular & monotonous as a clock.

I make sure, but wofully slow progress, with my new book."

Summary

Compliments Origin.

Sends extract about a waterplant to illustrate CD’s points about the means of dispersal in geographical distribution.

Summary

Criticises chapter on good effect of crossing in Variation: (1) does not accept that inbreeding alone results in degeneracy; (2) good effects of crossing exaggerated; (3) denies deleterious effects of close marriage in humans.

Summary

Invites WDF to visit.

Describes activities of his children.

Summary

Comments on effects of prussic acid on different individuals of the same species and other physiological research by WP.

Provides information about his studies in Edinburgh and Cambridge and qualifications he had for Beagle voyage. Describes influence of R. E. Grant and J. S. Henslow.

Summary

Sends thanks for election to American Philosophical Society.

Summary

Has read the notes on Rond [Round] Island which he owes to JDH. What an enigma its flora and fauna present, especially the problem of monocotyledons! Asks JDH’s opinion.

A new book on St Helena confirms CD’s observations.

Summary

Asks CD to be godfather to her third child [Maud Mostyn Owen].

Summary

CD’s goddaughter, Maud, has been christened.

Summary

Moritz Wagner is going to attack selection theory in his new book on his travels in America [Naturwissenschaftliche Reisen im tropischen Amerika (1870)].

K. G. Semper may attack CD’s theory of coral islands.

Summary

Sends information on the distribution of various species in the U. S.

Summary

Describes his brother Alexander’s discovery of male of Bonellia, a striking example of dimorphism. Encloses a plate with notes on his brother’s work.

The difficulty his wife, Sofya Kovalevsky, has had as a woman in being admitted to Berlin University. Kirchow [Gustav Robert Kirchhoff], at Heidelberg, has taken an interest in her.