Would be useless to insert CD’s name [on masthead of Entomologists’ Annual] since he does not work on insects.

Thanks HTS for Entomologist’s Weekly Intelligencer [no. 2, 12 Apr 1856]. Agrees with his remarks [in "Why did Mr Westwood get the Royal Medal?"], but explains that a change in rules for awarding the Royal Medal has been made. Earlier it had to be given for publications in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, which explains small number of entomologist recipients.

On what kind of moth have pollen-masses of orchids been found cohering? Will ask Mr Parfitt if he is certain he recognised pollen-masses of bee orchid. CD thinks green masses were those of true Orchis.

[In P.S., having received a letter on subject from HTS responding to same query published in Gard. Chron. 9 June 1860:] It is extremely curious that the same moth has been found with pollen-masses in two parts of England.

Has had a very satisfactory answer from Mr Parfitt. Asks HTS to insert query in Entomologist’s Weekly Intelligencer and also to answer it himself. ["Do the Tineina and other small moths suck flowers?", Collected papers 2: 35–6.]

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

Sends a preliminary reply to CD’s query [5890]. Ten males to one female among captured micro-Lepidoptera. Six females to four or five males in those he has bred. HTS is aware this is diametrically opposed to information from [Alexander] Wallace and Bates, but the true proportion of sexes can only be ascertained by breeding.

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.

Asks whether the colouring of particular butterflies has any protective function, to ascertain whether the function is other than sexual.

Replies to CD on proportion of sexes in butterflies, coloration of moths, and courtship. Encloses copies of letters on these subjects between HTS, Henry Doubleday, and John Hellins.

Thanks HTS for his valuable information. Hopes to arrive at probable answer to question of proportion of males to females in the progeny of butterflies bred in domestication.

On courtship of butterflies, CD believes something more than chance is involved in determining which male is successful.

Protective coloration in butterflies.

[Alexander] Wallace’s suggestion that collecting larger larvae of females accounts for error in counting proportion of sexes.

Encloses R. McLachlan’s certificate of nomination for Royal Society. Hopes CD will sign it, as McLachlan is the most philosophic member of the Entomological Society in years.

Has signed enclosure [Royal Society nomination for McLachlan] with pleasure.

Thanks HTS for a Dahlia flower, but analogous cases of such "bud-variation" have been observed before.