Asks CD’s permission to translate Variation into Italian [translation not published until 1876].
Showing 21–40 of 53 items
Asks CD’s permission to translate Variation into Italian [translation not published until 1876].
Has often thought CD would find vast material for his ideas in study of entomology and Lepidoptera. His price-list of specimens proves only that collectors of Lepidoptera catch more males than females, not that there are more. He accounts for this by the less active habits of the females. [See Descent 1: 312.]
On false claims that female cattle can be produced at will.
Asks function of several twisted parts (stem, petals, germen) in hardy orchids. His reading of Orchids makes him suspect that the parts are connected with fertilisation.
Has passed on copy of Variation to American Academy [of Arts and Sciences]. The U. S. reprint is not very nicely printed.
Sends graft-hybrid notice.
Is confirmed about the bending of the fly orchid pollinia. [See "Fertilisation of orchids", Collected papers 2: 141.]
Going to the Gold Coast. Will collect plants for Kew.
Offers his services. Particularly interested in making inquiries for CD about the human race.
Regrets he cannot get to Down.
Trip with Huxley was perfect.
At Torquay later he had a lecture on "Kent’s hole" from Joseph Pengelly.
George Bentham acknowledges himself unreservedly a convert to Darwinism. Many will still cling to a "rag of protection, but will eventually haul it down".
A. Murray’s later parts better than first [? Geographical distribution of mammals (1866)].
Wallace’s paper shows great ability.
Disgusted with [Duke of Argyll’s] Reign of law.
His depression and exhaustion.
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.
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.
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.