There is so much detail in Variation that WDF will never be able to finish it. Some chapters, like that on reversion, are "curious".
Asks that Gray forward a letter to J. T. Rothrock. Variation is selling well. Nearly all chapters were at least partially written before Origin was published.
Heartily glad for JM’s sake at sale [of Variation]. Thinks JM right to publish a smaller second edition, for "the public will soon find out that it is dull" – though scientifically valuable. The index is excellent. CD is "always greedy" for presentation copies.
Has heard that Variation sold the whole edition of 1500 copies in a week [see 5844]. Has done him a world of good. Pall Mall Gazette has review which pleased him exceedingly [see 5874].
Asks about proportions of male to female insects.
Wants information on sex ratios in domestic animals. Can WBT help?
Is working on sexual selection and is interested in any anomalous sex ratios in lower animals and any sex-related characters.
Requests information on published observations on the proportional number of males and females born to various domestic animals.
CD is much interested in FB’s remarks in Land and Water on the apparent excess of male trout over females and asks for further information on other fish, birds, and domestic quadrupeds.
Is interested in the relative numbers of males and females of all animals; wants any instances of males, or females, being in excess.
Asks whether mane in male of Macacus silenus protects it from bites or is merely ornamental.
Requests entomological data on sexual selection, especially proportions of sexes.
Sends Queries about expression with note: "a great hobby of mine".
Is much obliged that WBT will undertake tabulation of sex ratios in racehorses, greyhounds, and cattle.
Returns Anthropological Review.
Asks to borrow Desmarest on Crustacea [Considérations générales sur la classe des crustacés (1825)].
Has been reading JL’s address to the Entomological Society [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 3d. ser. 5 (1865–7): cxiii–cxxxi].
Would like to hear JL’s conclusion for or against Pangenesis.
Has looked through BDW’s papers and finds heaps of facts on sexual differences. Asks questions on sexual differences in particular species.
Thanks for Nathusius [Die Racen des Schweines (1860)].
CD will call on JEG to hear his views on specific differences of pigs.
Does not know who has "cut me up so severely" in the Athenæum but suspects "your great man in the Museum" [Richard Owen].
CD thanks BJS for photographs of Jemmy [Button]’s son
and for the curious case about stallions, which leads him to ask whether BJS has observed that horses when fighting try especially to bite each other’s necks.
Does he know anything about male seals fighting?
Asks for information on coloration and proportions of sexes in butterflies and moths for his work on sexual selection.
Wants to know how the colour of the eye of the peacock’s tail is produced, whether it depends upon colouring matter in the feathers or reflection, and whether any varying structural change will account for the series of colours surrounding it.
CD in utter confusion about differences between J. O. Westwood and HWB on division of certain insects. Asks if HWB will homologise certain families for him, telling him which terms would be most generally understood.
Asks also about differences on sound-producing organs of Achetidae Gryllidae.