Suggests possible arbitrators to act in a business transaction involving WED.
Suggests possible arbitrators to act in a business transaction involving WED.
Glad to hear about pigeons. Did not know some birds could win affections of females more than others, except among peacocks.
Comments on polygamy in birds.
Discusses sex ratios among birds.
Has received English edition of Variation. First volume of German edition came three months ago. Comments on book.
Will send copy of recent lectures on human evolution [Entstehung des Menschengeschlechts (1868)]. Gegenbaur much interested in the subject.
Considers Selachius the ancestral form of the fish and hence of all higher vertebrates. Believes their swim-bladder became lung of amphibians.
Mentions cases of hybrid crosses between rabbits and hares producing fertile offspring.
Relates a variety of facts about sexual selection in birds. [See Descent 2: 104–5.]
Arranges to call on WRG.
Asks AG for details of variation in patterning of the banded snake.
CD relays the advice of Sir W. R. Grove on the dismal prospects of a law career.
Returns George Darwin’s criticisms of his notes on sterility and sends further notes in reply. Since there are degrees of sterility between varieties, "is it not probable that natural selection can accumulate these variations?" Varieties that are adapted to new conditions could then survive and form new species without being isolated.
Experiments to test Wallace’s theory that brightly coloured caterpillars are rejected by birds. [See Descent 1: 417.]
Discusses law versus engineering and business as a career.
Supposes ARW will have "squashed" GHD’s criticisms of his notes on sterility.
Detailed notes on secondary sexual differences in various species of birds and mammals.
Has found EB’s MS most interesting and valuable. Fully half the facts were new to him; will probably use some.
Gives his opinion on a business transaction involving WED and the Southampton bank.
American publishers will not wait for woodcuts, so asks Murray to have a copy of the reprint sent to Asa Gray. Will call soon to talk about Für Darwin and to hear about sale of latest edition of Origin
Sexual preference in insects;
structures for seizing females;
coloration.
Doubts whether CD can make much of a case from insects in support of sexual selection.
He and Lizzie [Elizabeth Darwin] will come to Kew on Saturday.
French translation of Variation has just appeared. Copies sent to Quatrefages de Bréau, C. V. Naudin, A. J. Gaudry, Camille Dareste, and Ernest Faivre.
Blushing in South American Indians.
Hairlessness of Aymaras and Quechuas. [See Descent 2: 322–3.]
Coloration in moths.
Quotes Achille Guénée on relative proportion of sexes in Phalaenites.
Proportions of sexes in birds as reported by bird-catchers.