Summary

Thanks for postcard informing him of Delboeuf’s review of his book; he had already seen review.

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 compliments on Evolutionist at large.

Reports on his improving health.

Summary

Says it is not likely he will be able to criticise GJR’s work.

Recommends Jean-Henri Fabre, Souvenirs entomologiques [1879].

Encloses letters from J. F. Moulton [12350 and 12356].

Summary

Returns CD’s letter concerning testimonial fund for Grant Allen.

Summary

Read GA’s book [The colour-sense] with "great interest". Makes criticisms and suggestions.

Cannot believe in GA’s theory of the origin of pleasure and pain.

Is glad he defends sexual selection;

CD finds A. R. Wallace’s explanations "mere empty words" and for many years he has "quite doubted [ARW’s] scientific judgment".

Considers the possible effect of environmental colour on the colour tastes of animals.

Summary

Has sent copy of his new book, Colour-sense [1879]; in anticipation of criticism, he justifies his reliance on recorded observations rather than experiments, by the heavy demands of his career as a journalist.

Summary

Thanks for comments on paper and references to related works. Clarifies points on colour distinction between energy-absorbing (green) and energy-expending (bright-hued) portions of plants and on the influence of flower colour in modifying the insect organism.

Summary

Describes grafting experiment of Baron de Villa Franca, which produced new varieties of sugar-cane. Encloses related documents.

Summary

Relieved to hear that EK approves of his notice [preface for Erasmus Darwin]. Is reflecting on idea that it might appear after EK’s article as "an additional or supplementary notice".

Grieved to hear that Grant Allen has been accused of plagiarism.

Summary

Thanks for essay on origin of taste for music. Will send to Edmund Gurney.

Summary

Thanks GJR for gift of game.

Contributes to [Naples] Zoological Station.

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

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

Discusses subscription for Grant Allen. Suggests present of microscope.

Summary

Accepts GJR’s offer to prepare sugar-cane paper for publication [Villa Franca and Glass, "New varieties of sugar-cane", Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (1880–2): 30–1]. Suggests introduction and outline.

Agrees with GJR on microscope for Grant Allen.

Summary

Explains that it was his son, Grant, who sent JAA’s article defending Darwinian origins of morality.

Comments on CD’s Canadian admirers

and asks whether Grant may visit CD at Down.

Summary

Is recuperating well in France.

Summary

Galton agrees with GJR about rudimentary organs.

GJR’s note referred to possibility of selection acting on organic types as distinguished from individuals.

Thinks Grant Allen has not made out his point [in Physiological aesthetics (1877)], but his fundamental principle probably has much truth.

Summary

Agrees about Grant Allen affair.