Agrees to propose GJR for membership in Royal Society.
Remarks on GJR’s paper on Medusae [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 167 (1877): 659–752].
Agrees to propose GJR for membership in Royal Society.
Remarks on GJR’s paper on Medusae [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 167 (1877): 659–752].
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.
His father is grateful for the account of the alleged discovery of men with tails.
His father does not believe in their existence of the tailed men, although the tails may be an inherited monstrosity.
Orchids [2d ed.] will soon be published.
1000 more copies of Descent [2d ed.] will soon have to be printed, so CD could send any alterations to be made in the plates.
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].
TMR’s address ["Geological time" (Presidential Address, 1876), Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 3 (1878): 211–35] not yet published. Will send copy.
Would like to see essay [on effects of conscription in France, see 10774]. Knows of Swiss memoir to the same effect. Author says Swiss yeomen apt to leave homestead to sickly son. Landed populations deteriorate.