Agrees with Bates that neuter termites are not modified imagos (sterile females), but modified larvae (of both sexes).
Systematic relations of stingless honey-bees (Melipona and Trigona) are not yet well established.
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The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Agrees with Bates that neuter termites are not modified imagos (sterile females), but modified larvae (of both sexes).
Systematic relations of stingless honey-bees (Melipona and Trigona) are not yet well established.
[Valediction and signature only.]
Although he formed a high opinion of one of the correspondent’s papers, regrets that he could not presume to give an opinion of the merits of a candidate in chemistry.
Thanks for two pamphlets.
Sends Thomas Belt’s [The naturalist in Nicaragua (1874)], "the best Nat. Hist. book of travels ever published".
CD sends thanks for the honour conferred by his election as an honorary member, though ill health may prevent his taking advantage of the privileges granted.
Sends paper she read before AAAS, but which was not accepted for Proceedings.
On the extinction of populations. [See Descent, 2d ed., p. 183.]
Has no objection to having his name appear as honorary member of [unidentified] club.
Requests help for George Darwin’s investigation of marriages of first cousins. Seeks to determine proportion of first-cousin offspring among the insane, deaf and dumb, blind, etc.
Mentions family news;
sends a little magazine [missing] dealing with South American mission and showing "what teaching and the gospel of Christ is doing for those poor Natives".
Thanks BJS for the missionary pamphlet and his good account of the Fuegians.
Is under the care of Andrew Clark, and feels "very old & helpless".
CD has previously received information on colours of greyhounds. Now asks whether breeders rear all puppies, and, if not, do they selectively rear more males or females?
W. J. Beal’s paper ["Phyllotaxis of cones", Am. Nat. 7 (1873): 449–53] shows incompleteness of HA’s theory, but does not invalidate his basic principles on origin of leaf arrangement or the broad applicability of the theory.
Thanks JDH for Asa Gray’s interesting letter.
Would like JDH’s copy of Coral reefs. Needs it for corrections for a new edition. Cannot buy one.
Pleased they will publish a new edition of Coral reefs, and he will soon consider any addenda and write a short preface.
Will return the wood-blocks of Journal of Researches the following week.
Could his copy of Coral Reefs please be returned.
CD is glad Horace has done "pretty well" in his examination.
Smith and Elder will publish new edition of Coral reefs [1874]; thanks HD for aid.
Breeders normally destroy weak and puny puppies in large litters, but would keep females if only one or two.
Invites AC to visit.
CD requests WW to ask a large breeder of greyhounds whether the increase in litters requires that some puppies be destroyed. If so, is it sufficient to destroy merely the small and weak? Would this result in more males or females being destroyed?
CD once used the Field to tabulate ratios of female to male births in greyhounds (110: 100).
The coral-reef book has been invaluable [J. D. Dana, Corals and coral islands (1872); used by CD in Coral reefs, 2d ed. (1874)].
Thanks for Saturday Review.