His father is grateful for the account of the alleged discovery of men with tails.
His father does not believe in their existence of the tailed men, although the tails may be an inherited monstrosity.
His father is grateful for the account of the alleged discovery of men with tails.
His father does not believe in their existence of the tailed men, although the tails may be an inherited monstrosity.
Discusses certificate proposing GJR as Fellow of Royal Society.
Orchids [2d ed.] will soon be published.
1000 more copies of Descent [2d ed.] will soon have to be printed, so CD could send any alterations to be made in the plates.
Has received French essay on effects of conscription on [decreasing] height of men, due to unfit left at home to propagate race. Would FG care to see it?
Sends nest of a Uruguayan bird.
Sends photographs of himself.
Thanks CD for book [Cross and self-fertilisation]
and Francis Darwin for publications.
Discusses publication of CD’s essays in three German popular periodicals.
Haeckel is ill.
German translation of George Darwin, "Marriage between first cousins" [1875] has sold 250 copies.
Returns E. Haeckel’s Perigenesis [der Plastidule (1876)]. EH’s "plastidules" do not differ from Spencer’s "physiological units". Does not see that biology gains anything from EH’s theory.
Can FG come to lunch on Sunday? George Darwin wants to meet him.
Declines offer involving embryological studies.
Encloses extract [missing] on a caterpillar.
Mentions William Buckler’s magnificent drawings of caterpillars [The larvae of the British butterflies and moths, Ray Soc. (1886–91)], but doubts Buckler will lend them for any Darwinian purpose. John Hellins has a portion of drawings and is more liberal.
Has read CD’s note on the scarcity of holly berries ["Holly berries" (1877), Collected papers 2: 189–90] resulting from the scarcity of bees. Believes the shortage of bees resulted from the wet year 1875, which led to a very poor honey harvest.
Observations on and explanations of the scarcity of fruit and berries (especially holly berries) evident that year.
GMT’s observations [on scarcity of holly berries] throw doubt on CD’s conclusions [see Collected papers 2: 189–90].
Would like to see essay [on effects of conscription in France, see 10774]. Knows of Swiss memoir to the same effect. Author says Swiss yeomen apt to leave homestead to sickly son. Landed populations deteriorate.
TMR’s address ["Geological time" (Presidential Address, 1876), Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 3 (1878): 211–35] not yet published. Will send copy.
No summary available.
Comments on AW’s book [Studien zur Descendenz-Theorie (1875–6)], especially on mimicry in caterpillars.
Mentions sets of drawings of British Lepidoptera in all stages. Would AW like to see them?
Asks whether CD has any observations to make on J. R. L. Delboeuf’s article ["Les mathématiques et la transformisme"] in Revue Scientifique [2d ser. 29 (1877): 669–79]. He would be pleased to receive a letter or article for publication.
CD asks if he may call next day for talk.