Reports two observations on crossing in dogs: the preservation of both pure types in the offspring of a pointer and a setter, and the influence of a first mating with a mongrel on the progeny of a Barbary bitch and a subsequent Barbary male.
Sends Dallas’ specimen of indexing [for Variation].
Asks CD’s opinion of likelihood of a hybrid of ass and bull, reported in a MS of a journey to Asia Minor he is reading.
Sends a letter he wrote in 1862 [see 3482].
Variation to be published at end of month.
Dimorphism and self-sterility.
Seed dissemination in Adenanthera.
Dallas’ index [for Variation] well done but rather too full.
A hybrid from an ass and a bull is utterly incredible.
Sends corrected title of Variation and report of progress in printing.
WSD is pleased that CD approves his index draft [for Variation]; notes his objection to long list of references under "Dogs" and will try to find a principle for shortening it. He has not indexed all authors’ names; is this practice satisfactory?
He had no idea that the double function of an excretory passage had played a part in the history of religion.
Suggestions on listing authors in the index [for Variation].
Has sent CD’s queries on expression to some friends; encloses one set of replies [missing].
Remarks on Darwinism’s reception. The radical press shies away, out of ignorance, because CD may be made out to be a Tory. He has met a Darwinian Marchioness.
The mystery of sex is the origin of all religion.
Sends Swiss Aquilegia flowers in which insects have eaten away the spurs.
Suggests fetid smell of Stapelia attracts carrion flies.
Thanks CD for his two notes [on indexing references to authors]; will increase the scope of his citations by including those quoted in footnotes in support of statements in the text.
Is not writing prospectus [of Variation] – merely sketch of contents and tenor of first volume for advertisement to booksellers.
Questions on details for the translation.
Publisher anxious to get volume out.
Sends revision of vol. 1 [of Variation]. Advance sale at auction sold 1200 copies, to CD’s great surprise. Publication delayed by index.
Distribution of plants.
Removal of posterior molars a common dental practice in America [see Descent 1: 27].
Has finished last revise of his book [Variation].
Is curious to know what JDH thinks of Pangenesis. It is fearfully imperfect, yet satisfying, for it connects large groups of facts by an intelligible thread.
Thomas Woolner is coming [to do a bust of CD].
Is reading sheets of Variation.
Suggests his father lend him the money to pay WED’s succession duty and thereby secure a discount.
Will not be inclined to challenge Pangenesis.
Admits CD’s victory over JDH’s continental hypothesis (but will not give up Greenland).
Relation of variation to circumstances is shown by discovery of endemic St Helena umbellifer having same palm-like habit as an endemic Madeiran species.
Has completed Boott’s Carices [Illustrations of the genus Carex, pt 4 (1867)],
is printing W. H. Harvey’s work [Genera of South African plants, 2d ed. (1868)],
and is revising English edition of Alphonse de Candolle’s Laws of botanical nomenclature [trans. H. A. Weddell (1868)].
Arrangements at Kew. Gardener [John Smith] is very ill; Oliver reigns supreme in the Herbarium.
