Answers CD’s questions.
Reception of Descent. Evolution accepted everywhere; descent of man accepted calmly.
Morocco plans.
Fears for Huxley, who is overworked.
Showing 181–200 of 570 items
Answers CD’s questions.
Reception of Descent. Evolution accepted everywhere; descent of man accepted calmly.
Morocco plans.
Fears for Huxley, who is overworked.
Thanks for CD’s letter on his review of Descent in the Pall Mall Gazette [21 Mar 1871].
Wants permission to have some of AK’s photographs copied for Expression.
Sends Hibiscus
and enclosure [Queries about expression?] on chance of "any point being observed" in Morocco.
Murray informs him edition of Descent will probably be 6500 copies.
Thanks WO for his reply to letter of 26 March. Has tried several people and platysma seemed to act, but it is difficult to observe when they shudder.
Effects of first impregnation on litters from subsequent pregnancies.
Power of selective breeding to produce different varieties.
Answers to CD’s queries will take time. CD may not be aware of the influence of accommodation on the diameter of the pupil of the eye. Parrots, for example, contract or dilate the pupil independently of amount of light [see Expression, p. 304]. Sends his book on the subject [On the anomalies of accommodation and refraction of the eye (1864)].
Asks whether capillary circulation is ever influenced by the mind’s being directed intently to any part of the body.
Has JC-B ever seen idiots blush? JC-B’s MS on blushing is capital.
Note on errata in first volume of Descent.
Wonders whether correspondent might possibly know of any cases in which intense concentration of the mind on one portion of the skin produces dilation of the capillary vessels and hence reddening of the area.
Thanks GBAD for permission to use his photographs [see 7623] and for the information on the expression of astonishment in monkeys.
More details on children with hairy backs;
reasons for greater mortality rate of male children.
Discusses breeding fancy pigeons from the wild blue rock-dove.
Sends scraps of information. Everything he has sent is unreservedly at CD’s disposal.
Many thanks for copy of Descent.
Would like to visit CD when he comes to England.
On the power of concentration to influence body organs.
Sexual differences in sloths. J. G. Wagler article on sloths [Isis 24 (1831): 604–12].
Encloses notes that illustrate apparent intelligent reasoning by a dog which tricked an adversary, and by an elephant peaceably enduring a painful operation.
Apologises for shortcomings of his argument in earlier letters, explaining he has had little scientific education, but a life-long interest in progressive development. Resumes theorising.
A friend with similar interests has asked to be introduced to CD, as he has some facts that will amuse him.