For experiment on effect of male beauty, pigeons should be coloured on the breast.
On his Primula paper for the Linnean Society ["On the specific difference between Primula veris, Brit. Fl. (var. officialis, Linn.), P. vulgaris, Brit. Fl. var. acaulis, Linn.), and P. elatior, Jacq.; and on the hybrid nature of the common oxlip; with supplementary remarks on naturally produced hybrids of the genus Verbascum", [officinalis!?] J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 10 (1869): 437–54].
Peacocks and sexual selection.
ARW’s sterility argument has driven CD’s sons half-mad.
Some questions on errata in second English issue of Variation.
Sends a paper by Robert Hartmann on domestic animals of the countries bordering the Nile ["Geographische Verbreitung der im nordöstlichen Afrika wild lebenden Säugethiere" Z. Ges. Erdkd. Berlin 3 (1868): 28–69, 232–70, 345–68, 404–20].
Has thought much about CD’s theory of Pangenesis. It "seems rather a little too complicated … as a molecular theory".
Proportions of male and female lambs.
Will start translating Für Darwin. Suggests it be called "A Lift for Darwin".
Requests information on the standard of beauty of savages and on whether the female has any influence in selecting a male.
The second volume of Lyell’s [Principles, 10th ed.] gives a "fair history of the progress of opinion on Species".
Pleased by allusion to Pangenesis: "an untried hypothesis is always dangerous ground".
Looks forward to chapter on domestication and on man.
On sterility of natural species and natural selection. Closely allied forms from adjacent islands offer best chance of finding good species fertile inter se.
Problem of minute variations and sexual selection.
Sends papers.
Writes of his son’s affairs.
Is reading Variation and discusses a point relating to feeding habits of horses.
CD asks about HD’s observation of sexual call of Coleoptera.
Also comments on statements by collectors that they breed more females than males from caterpillars. CD had thought this might be accounted for by the collection of largest and finest caterpillars, but Alexander Wallace says the collectors take large and small equally. Does HD agree with Wallace?
Reports her sister-in-law’s observations of her child, up to three months old, while crying and screaming.
Asks for CD’s "candid criticisms" of his paper [on Variation].
On attraction of males by females in moths. H. T. Stainton mentions a case.
Asks CD to breakfast in London on Tuesday [24 Mar].
Sends his niece’s [Lucy Wedgwood] observations on worms, vouches for her accuracy, and suggests the piece be inserted in Gardeners’ Chronicle [see "Worms", Gard. Chron. (1868): 324].
Adds his thanks for a "very kind review" of his book [Variation, Gard. Chron. (1868): 124].
On problem of sterility, CD cannot persuade himself that it has been gained by natural selection.
On sexual selection and minute variations, he tends to agree with ARW. Sends George Darwin’s notes on ARW’s argument.
Corrects error in spelling of name [in Variation].
Arranges for RT to call.
Corrections for German translation of Variation.
Discusses Pangenesis. CD not surprised at JVC’s unfavourable opinion. Huxley’s joke that it is more difficult to believe than Genesis. Lyell’s and Sir H. Holland’s opinions. For CD, it provides a bond for connecting many phenomena.