Summary

Thanks her for marked proof-sheets.

Discusses climate in earlier geological periods.

Summary

Thanks for his article Valeur philosophique de l’hypothèse du transformisme (Bertillon 1870), which is very clear.

Would not himself trust so much in Agassiz’s conclusions.

Glad the essay has been published, as he believes ‘there are but few in France who admit the doctrine of evolution’.

Summary

Discusses movement of ears and contraction of the platysma.

Discusses phyllotaxy, citing work of Carl Nägeli and Chauncey Wright.

Summary

Obliged for ESM’s article ["On adaptive coloration of the Mollusca", Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 14 (1870–1): 141–5]. Glad to have error corrected about protective colouring of shells.

Summary

Thanks GAE for memoir on earthworms [Bidrag till Skandinaviens Oligochaetfauna (1871)]. CD by chance is just now observing "one little point in their habits". Will be happy to learn something about the places frequented by the various species.

Summary

Thanks for the letter, photograph, and kind words about CD’s scientific work. [See 8088.]

CTEvS’s view of pseudova is new to CD;

he has not yet received the recent work on parthenogenesis

though he did receive the memoir on Polistes.

Summary

Sends corrections for new French edition of Origin.

Summary

Sends sheets [of the 6th ed. of Origin].

Thanks JVC for his letter about the sheep.

Summary

Refers GH to vol. 2, p. 431 of Variation for the "perplexed conclusion" at which CD has arrived on variation and design. Has nothing to add to this statement.

Summary

Requests that PB express his thanks to the Société d’Anthropologie de Paris for the honour conferred upon him [see 8102].

Summary

Will be in London until 21st. Would rejoice if JDH could come to lunch during their stay.

Summary

Congratulates Horace on passing his "Little Go".

Summary

Apologises for expressing himself stupidly [see 8086a]. He did not mean to give an opinion on what the species was, but merely referred to the range of L. australis. CD will look at specimens, but "the subject has gone much out of my mind; & my health is so weak, & I am so overwhelmed with proof-sheets & other work" that he hopes to be excused if he does not investigate the specimens closely.

Summary

H. Holland keeps strongly to the opinion that Kew be under the Treasury, and will recommend this to Lowe.

Summary

Can ADB allow T. W. Wood to sketch one of his dogs in hostile and friendly positions?

Do elephants in the Zoological Gardens carry tails aloft when excited?

Summary

Asks to borrow AG’s paper on denudation of flat or nearly flat surfaces ["On modern denudation", Trans. Geol. Soc. of Glasgow 3: 153-90]. CD has recently been making some observations he thinks throw a little light on the subject.

Summary

Thanks WO for a paper and for information about platysma. Has asked several persons to observe the muscle during a shivering fit, but all have failed.

Summary

Requests further information on subsidence of flagstones because of action of worms.

Summary

Is unable to accept invitation to Shrewsbury. Is grateful for offer of assistance at Wroxeter.

The weight of dry earth cast up by worms is 161/10 tons per acre annually.

Summary

"I have now looked at both lots of specimens, & I think both are the variable L. anatifera.–– I have disarticulated the right-hand scutal valve in both & the umbonal teeth are plain in both … I have hardly any doubt that both are L. anatifera.––"