Asks AG for details of variation in patterning of the banded snake.
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The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
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.
Thanks CD for advice received before his Novara voyage. Sends volumes [Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde … Geologischer Theil, ed. FCvH, 2 vols. in 3 (1864–6)].
There are so many doubtful points on the problems relating to sterility that they will never agree.
Thanks for information [about sex ratios] received from bird-catchers.
"Can you form any theory about all the many cases which you have given me and others which have been published, of when one pair is killed, another soon appearing?"
Facts about gay-coloured caterpillars very satisfactory.
Comments on Pangenesis.
Thanks RT for letter which saves him from a "terrible mistake": that no moths were more brilliantly coloured beneath than above. Suggests revised version for comment. [See Descent 1: 397.]
Approves CD’s revision on coloration of moths.
Impressed with apparent adverse tendencies: one toward sexual selection, the other toward protection.