Summary

Bird specimens collected by Capt. P. P. King eventually went to British Museum, but many specimens were incorrectly marked.

Summary

Asks whether the colouring of particular butterflies has any protective function, to ascertain whether the function is other than sexual.

Summary

Thanks GGS for information on the peacock’s feathers. Asks whether the colour zones around the "eye" could result from varying the thickness of the film of colouring matter or whether it would require different kinds of colouring matter.

Summary

Does not understand JDH on Pangenesis: on last page he appears to admit all that he regards as mere words on previous pages.

Wallace admires chapter on Pangenesis.

Pangenesis is a comfort. CD gains no idea from words like "potentiality" or "diffusing an influence"; atoms and cells give a distinct idea.

A. Newton told George that Berthold Seemann wrote the Athenæum review

and that Lewis [Lewes] did not write the Pall Mall Gazette review [see 5874].

Summary

CD sends thanks for information; he will write to Mr Bush.

In relation to the fecundation of ova CD adds that he has compared the use of very little pollen against an immense supply; found no difference in number or weight of seeds or in their germination.

Summary

JJW’s note on birds was one of the most interesting CD has ever received. Asks several questions. CD is puzzled by cases of magpies whose mates were killed but who always immediately found others.

Alexander Wallace denies any effect of colour in sexual selection among Lepidoptera.

Summary

Writes at Frank Buckland’s suggestion. Can JB provide any information on the proportion of sexes in rats?

Do male rats fight for the possession of the female? Are they polygamous?

Summary

Discusses tuition arrangements for Horace Darwin.

Summary

Asks for facts relating to courtship of birds and especially cases of females preferring particular males.

Summary

Has been interested in copy of HD’s letter to H. T. Stainton on numerical proportions of the sexes of insects. Do they vary during different years?

Does he have opinions about the courtships of butterflies?

Will send a copy of his paper on Primula when it is published. [See 5997.]

Summary

Thanks HTS for his valuable information. Hopes to arrive at probable answer to question of proportion of males to females in the progeny of butterflies bred in domestication.

On courtship of butterflies, CD believes something more than chance is involved in determining which male is successful.

Summary

Thanks JEG for answering questions so fully and clearly, especially as he is troubled with his eyes.

Summary

Thanks WS for information about moss roses and the Le Compte family.

Mentions WS’s recent papers on inheritance [Brit. & Foreign Med.-Chirurg. Rev. (1867)].

Summary

Acknowledges his election as a Corresponding Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg.

Summary

Payment of 400 guineas [Variation royalties] delights CD.

Summary

Sends sheets with alterations to be made [in Russian translation of Variation]. VOK should consider adding to the title-page that CD is a Corresponding Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences (St Petersburg).

Summary

Obliged for JP’s account of sheep. Such articles would make naturalists think more of natural selection.

E. A. Darwin’s health bad.

Asks about sex ratio in sheep births.

Summary

Discusses beaks and relative numbers of the sexes of goldfinches.

Comments on sexual selection among butterflies.

Mentions Kerguelen moth collected by Hooker.

Comments on JJW’s observations on coloured birds.

Summary

Wishes he had known of the views of Hippocrates, which are almost identical to his Pangenesis hypothesis. CD advances it as provisional, but secretly expects some such view will have to be admitted.

Summary

Acknowledges receipt of bill for £420.

Will try to attend Athenaeum meeting to help elect Clowes’s son.