Sexual differences in antelopes (Indian and African).

Sends a single specimen of Drosophyllum lusitanicum with description from F. de Avellar Brotero’s Flora Lusitanica [1804].

Discusses Portuguese ferns,

inherited mutilation,

and the earth’s geological history.

Evolution of behaviour and beauty by natural selection.

Further observations on horns of fallow deer. Sends fawn’s head.

Is forwarding potted specimens of Drosophyllum.

Will make inquiries about sheep.

Transmits letter [from Fritz Müller].

Has been asked to permit a French translation of Orchids and Journal of researches.

At work on sexual selection.

Weir’s paper on relation of protection to colour of caterpillars [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1869): 21–6; (1870): 337–9] confirms ARW’s hypothesis.

Suggests that ground ice, in Canada and similar countries, is a mode of distribution of boulders and animal and vegetable life.

Nothing new in Lushington’s letter. Two paragraphs are offensive – that THH sought to stir up Scotch Presbyterian prejudices against Comte at Edinburgh and that he had not read Comte.

Orchids translation should goad [French] Academy into electing CD.

JDH will be sent to St Petersburg congress by Government.

Huxley on protoplasm; his address to Geological Society.

Fertilised an Aucuba with pollen of various species. Reports on results.

Thanks for money, which will enable him to complete publication. Explains principles of his physiological theory.

Huxley has acknowledged receipt of VL’s letter. Both he and CD feel that some of VL’s statements were a little offensive although CD is sure this was not intended. Was glad to read the condensed statement of Comte’s claims in VL’s letter.

EF is seeking a French editor for Orchids [1870]. Introduces L. Rérolle, his student. [See 6667.]

Last letter was written to be passed on for Lushington’s edification. "(Standing on the points of my toes and my tail very stiff)." Is tiring of controversy as a waste of time. Begins to understand CD’s sufferings over Origin.

Envies JDH’s Russian trip.

Thanks for information on Aucuba. Urges him to experiment – case "has highest physiological importance, not to mention Pangenesis".

Has heard that Huxley has been attacking views of Sir W. Thomson.

Has received 12 plants of Drosophyllum lusitanicum from Oporto.

LR undertakes translation of Orchids [1870]. Awaits CD’s new footnotes and intends to look at every flower CD mentions.

The cirripede material mentioned in CD’s letter of 10 Feb has not arrived. [Asks CD to inquire of Williams and Norgate, who forwarded it.]

CD will supply the sheets of the new edition of the Origin [5th ed. (1869)] if JD goes ahead with his work [Kurze Darstellung der Lehre Darwin’s über die Entstehung der Arten der Organismen (1870)]. Has no objection to JD’s quoting him, but wonders whether the German publisher of Origin might not feel injured.

Asks about coat colour of elk,

the mane of American bison,

and about sexual preferences of female deer.

His observations of the chickens hatched from eggs of an isolated pair of pure-bred black-boned fowl. Nine were black-boned, two were like ordinary fowl.

Quotes a Mr Holdsworth on unusual expressions of Singhalese and Tamils in pointing and beckoning.

Has given a lecture series on Darwinism which was attended by 200–500 students.

Would like to compile a list of CD’s works.