Showing 21–40 of 55 items
[Responding to WJ's 1870-10-29], JH declines participating, suggesting that too many lobbying groups already exist and that such groups frequently end up agitating for ends others than those that led to their creation.
Pleased CD is quoting him in Descent.
Accepts PLS’s offer to read proofs of [Descent].
W. H. Hudson’s paper is interesting.
Sends CD two books outlining a new geological theory. Believes his theory explains the discontinuities in the fossil record.
JDH compliments Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] on his paper on 'Spontaneous Generation & Evolution' & hopes that it is a prelude to further research into the chemistry of vegetation as JDH believes there is no better man to do it. JDH is currently reading John Tyndall's paper 'On the Actions of Rays of High Refrangibility upon Gaseous Matter' in PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON & he is struck by Tyndall's remarks on the decomposition of carbonic acid, by solar rays, in the leaves of plants. JDH says that he had thought about this independently & believes it would make a good research subject. Has heard that Dr P[ercival] Wright it going to Algeria for the winter. JDH hopes that he has left the key to the [Trinity College] Herbarium for them.
Glad "Bran" [deerhound puppy] arrived safely.
Discusses his present book [Descent].
Would like to hear results of JM’s November booksale.
JH may recall meeting him at the Cape in March 1836. Now had a query regarding the size and limits of zodiacal light. Quotes case of errors in observations made by the Captain and Mate of a ship on which RN was returning from the Cape. Has now retired from the service.
Further comments on JH's paper on the musical scales.
JM reports 1900 [advance] copies of Descent were taken at his annual sale,
and 340 copies of Origin [5th ed.] were sold.
Sheets for Dutch publisher will be sent to CD immediately. JM cautions against possibility that Dutch edition will anticipate the English.
Observations on winter colour of coats of male and female elk,
spots on deer,
and tuft of hair on breasts of wild female turkeys.
Pleased at [advance] sale [of Descent]. Suggests 3000 copies be printed. Corrections are frightful and, CD fears, will not be done until end of year.
Thanks WO for information on platysma, which he did not know could be brought into voluntary action. Is coming to believe it has nothing to do with expression.
On the relation between white colouring and susceptibility to poisonous plants, CD suggests WO send his paper to J. Wyman and propose he investigate whether white as well as black pigs will eat paint-root.
Asks son John whom he would like to have sign the certificate for fellowship in the R.S.L. [see JH's 1870-9-7]; JH talks about ways of dealing with local irregularities in geodetic surveying [see JH's 1869-11-25]; is wishing Amelia and family were out of China and into India.
CD has already agreed that Julius Victor Carus will translate his next book.
Has heard "sad tales" about CD’s forthcoming book [Descent]; does not think even CD can persuade him his ancestors were apes.
John Lubbock has nearly finished his Thysanura book [Monograph of the Collembola and Thysanura (1873)].
No summary available.
Reports case of apparent incipient dimorphism. Observations on variations in flower structure, especially style length, within species of Polemoniaceae.