GHKT should not take more trouble about human expression. Discusses contraction of orbicular muscles in elephants.
Asks about colour of first plumage of breeds of Ceylon fowls in which hens alone are coloured.
Thanks THF for correcting the error in Orchids.
Asks him to find out what insects visit the fly orchid and for what purpose.
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.
Inquires about the colour of first plumage of poultry breeds and development of distinguishing features.
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.
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.