Discusses several subjects, including examples of "Unity of coloration",
the origin of gall-producing poison,
Wagner’s theory of viviparous larvae,
and stridulation in insects.
Sends a reference supporting CD’s statement in Origin that flies check propagation of horses and cattle.
Declines writing testimonial for AN for the Cambridge Professorship in Zoology. The post requires expertise in comparative anatomy and histology, whereas AN’s work is on habits and colours of birds.
Assures CD of his belief in descent from his first reading of Origin.
Describes a case of dichogamy.
Discusses dimorphism of Oxalis; one form has 99% sterile anthers. Has found three kinds of fertile anthers.
Sends his observations on sterility of Eschscholzia,
on Oxalis,
and on recently found dimorphic plants.
Sends specimen of Hedyotis [see Forms of flowers, p. 133].
Position as Curator allows no time for experiment.
Describes plans for vast new layout of Calcutta Botanic Garden according to natural orders.
Himalayan and Scottish plants are doing well.
Hopes to experiment on temperate plants in tropics, to test CD’s views of migration during glacial periods.
Sends observations on acclimatisation of English cultivated plants.
Leersia CD sent are growing and fertile.
Observations on Ophrys plants and Thymus vulgaris. Encloses sketch of different forms of T. vulgaris [see Forms of flowers, p. 302].
Cites cases of difference in coloration between the sexes of some species of Crustacea, annelids, and spiders.
Discusses dimorphic plants and self-sterility.
Outlines some experiments involving the crossing of different species of orchids.
Encloses extract from Carl Claus, Die freilebenden Copepoden [1863].
Asks whether his former pupil, J. J. Moulinié, might translate Variation into French for Reinwald. CV would provide a preface. Encloses letter from Moulinié to Reinwald.
Supposes that infants’ eyes bulge and become engorged with blood during fits of sneezing or screaming, but doubts Charles Bell’s experiment of opening and observing eyes turn from pale to red [Anatomy and philosophy of expression (1844)].
Discusses the action of the eye when looking at distant objects.
Thanks for information on Galloway cattle. [See 5614.]
Interested in WBD’s work on descent of the rhinoceros; is pleased to learn that he does not consider species to be immutable.
Sends CD cheque for £250, two-thirds of the profits on the sale of 700 copies of Origin, 4th ed.
Hopes he has found a suitable indexer for Variation.
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.
JvH forwards J. Stack’s replies to CD’s queries about expression [see Expression, p. 20].
Sends photos of skeletons of six species of Dinornis he is assembling for the Museum.
Oliver overlooked CD’s request about rutaceous flowers. Of precisely which points about the ovules does CD want illustrations?
Sends prospectus of forthcoming work by his brother [Henry Trimen] and W. T. Thiselton-Dyer [Flora of Middlesex (1869)]. Hopes CD will subscribe.
Sends photo of four Fuegians, including Jemmy Button’s son.
Reports incident of two wild stallions on the Falklands acting together in an attempt to take a troop of mares from an introduced English horse [see Descent 2: 241].
Encloses information on sex ratios in thoroughbred horses.
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.
On numerical proportions of sexes in insects; coloration. Dimorphism in dragonflies (Agrion) in which usual coloration is reversed in sexes [see Descent 1: 362–4].
Wallace seems to ride his hobby too hard.