TB is seeking a Government grant through the Royal Society so that he can give up his business and pursue his work on the glacial period; wants CD to support him with a note to Hooker.
TB is seeking a Government grant through the Royal Society so that he can give up his business and pursue his work on the glacial period; wants CD to support him with a note to Hooker.
Forwards letters.
Would like Price’s address.
Has "the missing link" been found in New Guinea, as he read in the newspaper?
Offers CD the nest of a foreign bird pressed on him by a neighbour.
A letter in support of [Ann Jane] Cupples’ request to the Royal Literary Fund for assistance. Her talent, industry, and need.
Thanks AN for telling him of the complex cross among wagtails. CD is surprised that so much close interbreeding does not check their propagation.
CD does not suppose he will ever have strength to work up his data on hybridism, so he will not write to Mr Monk.
TABS is pleased that CD found something of interest in his researches in Crete [Travels and researches in Crete (1869)].
Asks AG not to send his rare specimens [of Leucosmia].
Is glad of the notice about black pigs.
Has great faith in Jeffries Wyman;
thinks A. R. Wallace founds his speculation on a feeble basis.
Suggests that the scarcity of holly berries is owing to the scarcity of bees during the spring, rather than to frost. He does not know what caused the scarcity of bees.
Discusses certificate proposing GJR as Fellow of Royal Society.
Sends photographs of himself.
Thanks CD for book [Cross and self-fertilisation]
and Francis Darwin for publications.
Sends nest of a Uruguayan bird.
Has received French essay on effects of conscription on [decreasing] height of men, due to unfit left at home to propagate race. Would FG care to see it?
Discusses publication of CD’s essays in three German popular periodicals.
Haeckel is ill.
German translation of George Darwin, "Marriage between first cousins" [1875] has sold 250 copies.
Can FG come to lunch on Sunday? George Darwin wants to meet him.
Declines offer involving embryological studies.
Has read CD’s note on the scarcity of holly berries ["Holly berries" (1877), Collected papers 2: 189–90] resulting from the scarcity of bees. Believes the shortage of bees resulted from the wet year 1875, which led to a very poor honey harvest.
Observations on and explanations of the scarcity of fruit and berries (especially holly berries) evident that year.
Encloses extract [missing] on a caterpillar.
Mentions William Buckler’s magnificent drawings of caterpillars [The larvae of the British butterflies and moths, Ray Soc. (1886–91)], but doubts Buckler will lend them for any Darwinian purpose. John Hellins has a portion of drawings and is more liberal.
GMT’s observations [on scarcity of holly berries] throw doubt on CD’s conclusions [see Collected papers 2: 189–90].