Do breeders rear more male than female greyhound puppies?

Orders five works on the Sandwich Islands from the Royal Geographical Society Library for his investigation of infanticide and population trends there.

Prefaces Fritz Müller’s observations on termites and stingless bees [see 9281].

Asks AG to sign an enclosure [see 9291].

Has read GH’s proofs and, although not entirely in agreement, has no criticisms worth sending.

Thanks for birthday greetings.

Comments on work at Naples Zoological Station. F. M. Balfour to visit Naples. Would like to send third son [Francis Darwin] to learn art of observing marine animals.

Health indifferent.

Has sent FM’s letter on termites to Nature ["Habits of various insects", Nature 10 (1874): 102–3].

Would be interested in observations on the stingless bees of Brazil.

Returns proofs; has no criticisms or remarks worth sending.

On the "doubtful & obscure" subject of marriage of cousins, CD believes, that judging from the analogy of animals, no direct evil would follow from their marriage. He would, however, expect the offspring of unrelated parents to be somewhat superior in size and vigour. The injury from the increase of any bad tendency common to the family seems to CD more to be feared than mere consanguinity; "the good effects of crossing distinct families I look at as great & undoubted".

Thanks for facts on inheritance

Thinks CST’s paper (C. S. Tomes 1874) about the enamel on the teeth of the armadillo is most remarkable.

Asks HBT to sign certificate [for Royal Society] for Robert Swinhoe.

At the suggestion of Crichton-Browne CD writes on behalf of his son George, who is making a study of marriages between first cousins and of their offspring to determine the proportion of the latter who may be among the insane, deaf and dumb, idiotic, blind etc. Is GES willing to ask his patients [at the Royal Albert Asylum] for the information relevant to this study?

Does not believe in the possibilty of dog suicide.

Thanks for HHHvZ’s translation of Expression. CD will have HHHvZ’s notes translated by one of his sons.

Thanks for answering his query on greyhound puppies.

Thanks for copies of HdV’s two articles on climbing plants (Vries 1873a and 1873b).

Discusses meaning of term "sexual selection".

Comments on variability in males.

Thanks for his election as Foreign Honorary Member.

Thanks for LR’s essay on living and fossil turtles [Bull. Soc. Sci. Nat. Neuchâtel 9 (1873): 439–41].

CD wishes to acquire a piece of JL’s land.