Enters Francis Darwin at Trinity College, Cambridge. Encloses certificate from Alfred Wrigley and £20 entrance and caution money. Wants Francis to have rooms in College.
Has been writing a review of CD’s "Climbing plants" for Popular Science Review [5 (1866): 55–65].
An actuary wants to know whether the probability that a woman of English–Indian parentage will have a child after age 35 is the same as for a European woman.
Sends specimen of Californian fish that inhabits mountain lakes. The lakes often dry up and the fish have developed legs to enable them to wander in search of water.
Not surprised at delay of his book [Generelle Morphologie (1866)].
P. M. Duncan taking side of evolution.
Has received paper on Geryonidae ["Über eine neue Form des Generationswechsels bei den Medusen", Monatsber. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin (1865): 85–94]. Had often speculated on whether such a case ever occurred in nature.
Acknowledges HWA’s oration.
Discusses design in nature, Asa Gray’s views, and his own confusion.
Has forwarded FM’s MS to Max Schultze, but did not read it.
Movement of stem apex in Linum.
Haeckel’s paper on reproduction in certain Medusae.
Butterflies of Mauritius.
RT’s Bonatea paper published by Linnean Society [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 9 (1867): 156–60].
Discusses a variety of subjects: Cynips, galls, potato bugs,
male Daphnia laying eggs.
His Primula experiment results differ from John Scott’s.
Is working one hour a day now, on illegitimate seedlings of Lythrum and Primula.
Begins to doubt John Scott’s accuracy about primrose and cowslip.
Does JDH believe in Karsten’s denial of parthenogenesis of Coelebogyne?
No one believes in Karsten.
Surprised by CD’s observations that illegitimate crosses within a species produce hybrid-like offspring.
JDH’s scepticism of Scott’s observations.
On proposing James Hector vs Julius von Haast for Royal Society; on learned society honours.
Oliver says H. E. Baillon found stamens on female flowers of Coelebogyne, but JDH and many botanists have never found any stamens.
Lyell wants to propose JDH for Copley Medal.
Has been ill since April, so has not read all of JvH’s papers.
Encloses his photograph.
Has written to support JvH for Royal Society.
Samuel Butler [returned from New Zealand] is now established in London as an artist.
Sends a tin full of Ophrys by his brother, who should take about 60 hours to reach Down.
Sending cheque for Down parish charities.
Will explain about the so-called hybrids of Lythrum when they meet.
JDH should not be proposed for Copley Medal this year because Royal Society Council has so few naturalists on it.
