CD is much interested in FB’s remarks in Land and Water on the apparent excess of male trout over females and asks for further information on other fish, birds, and domestic quadrupeds.

Is interested in the relative numbers of males and females of all animals; wants any instances of males, or females, being in excess.

Asks whether mane in male of Macacus silenus protects it from bites or is merely ornamental.

Requests entomological data on sexual selection, especially proportions of sexes.

Sends Queries about expression with note: "a great hobby of mine".

Returns Anthropological Review.

Asks to borrow Desmarest on Crustacea [Considérations générales sur la classe des crustacés (1825)].

Has been reading JL’s address to the Entomological Society [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 3d. ser. 5 (1865–7): cxiii–cxxxi].

Would like to hear JL’s conclusion for or against Pangenesis.

Is much obliged that WBT will undertake tabulation of sex ratios in racehorses, greyhounds, and cattle.

Asks ADB to perform experiment on colour perception in bower-bird.

Asks for rabbit specimens.

Thanks for Nathusius [Die Racen des Schweines (1860)].

CD will call on JEG to hear his views on specific differences of pigs.

Does not know who has "cut me up so severely" in the Athenæum but suspects "your great man in the Museum" [Richard Owen].

Has looked through BDW’s papers and finds heaps of facts on sexual differences. Asks questions on sexual differences in particular species.

Asks for information on coloration and proportions of sexes in butterflies and moths for his work on sexual selection.

Wants to know how the colour of the eye of the peacock’s tail is produced, whether it depends upon colouring matter in the feathers or reflection, and whether any varying structural change will account for the series of colours surrounding it.

CD thanks BJS for photographs of Jemmy [Button]’s son

and for the curious case about stallions, which leads him to ask whether BJS has observed that horses when fighting try especially to bite each other’s necks.

Does he know anything about male seals fighting?

CD in utter confusion about differences between J. O. Westwood and HWB on division of certain insects. Asks if HWB will homologise certain families for him, telling him which terms would be most generally understood.

Asks also about differences on sound-producing organs of Achetidae Gryllidae.

Is obliged for note on right-handedness. The subject is a very curious one, but CD has never attended to it and can give no additional facts.

Thanks EW for information [on expression] about Australians.

THH’s offer to read proof of essay on man encourages CD to write with satisfaction instead of a vague dread.

Begs Mrs Huxley not to forget corrugator supercilii in a crying child.

Discusses factors possibly influencing the sex of caterpillars. Is gathering information on sex ratios in insects and would welcome any cases in which males seem to outnumber females.

Thanks WBT for tabulation of sex ratios in racehorses.

RT’s argument about the Lasiocampa strikes him as very good; asks for any similar cases. Wonders whether male butterflies may serve more than one female.

Thanks HWB for bringing "the question of sexes" before the Entomological Society. Feels he will come to some conclusion by comparison of numerous observations.

It appears Pangenesis "will expire unblessed and uncursed by the world".