Encloses grass from locust dung sent from Natal. Asks for name of grass.

Wilson Armistead’s death cut short his work on galls, but Müller is continuing it.

In China only uni-coloured animals are sold for meat, the rest are killed in the litter.

Thanks for information on sex ratios of Lepidoptera.

Agrees that entomologists have best means of proving derivation of species.

Answers CD’s queries on sexual characters and differences among the Urodela.

Is interested in the relationship of pectoral and pelvic limbs in man and apes and has looked at reptiles and amphibians to find traces of the earlier conditions of the limbs.

Asks whether CD knows any instances of deformities or pathological conditions occurring simultaneously in both sets of limbs.

HWB thinks he can buy specimens of male and female insects at Mr Janson’s.

Lists specimens he wants from Mr Janson, emphasising that he always wants male and female.

He extends an invitation for a Sunday in early June.

JDH too severe on Duke of Argyll.

Pities JDH on [BAAS] address [see 6099]; Huxley feels JDH will do well and will not pity him.

Thinks Huxley will give an excellent and original lecture on geographical distribution of birds.

Has been working hard on sexual selection and correspondence about it.

Mignonette is sterile with its own pollen but any two distinct plants are fertile together. It is utterly mysterious and not even Pangenesis will explain it.

On Lyell’s book [Principles, 10th ed.].

Wallace’s wonderful cleverness, but he is not cautious enough. CD differs from Wallace on birds’ nests and protection.

A. Murray’s miserable criticism of Wallace [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 137–45].

Has sent the Registrar General’s Report which shows proportion of male to female births in every county.

Consanguineous marriages.

Comments on DP’s paper on man ["Transmutation of man according to the Darwinian theory" (n.d.)].

Inquires about plumage of poultry breeds.

Will obtain information on sheep.

Is interested in CD’s remarks on role of pollen in modifying ovarium. Sends his own observations on numerical relations of stamens and pistils to divisions in the ovarium.

Will answer CD’s queries from Africa.

Reports extreme amazement of some natives in Gabon upon seeing a white man for the first time.

Sex ratios in cattle and sheep.

On structure of Crustacea; size of claws [see Descent 1: 330–1].

Thanks for note about enlarged left arm of Gelasimus.

CD’s book taking on famously. AG’s review in Nation [see 5921] and preface to American edition.

Asks JM to consider publishing a MS on John Wesley by CD’s niece, Frances Julia Wedgwood [John Wesley and the evangelical reaction of the eighteenth century (1870)].

Has received clean sheets for Italian translation [of Variation?].

Describes change of plumage in chickens in order to be sure he is clear about the age of chickens on which CD wants information. Encloses feathers to illustrate changes.

Sends specimens selected by H. W. Bates.

Among the Lamellicornes the family Dynastidae have most instances of presence of stridulating organs; Frederick Smith says that in Hymenoptera female Mutilla has stridulating faculty in high degree.

[Itemised bill for Coleoptera specimens enclosed.]