Observes Plantago’s out-crossing mechanism.
Observations of style lengths of primroses and cowslips.
Observes Plantago’s out-crossing mechanism.
Observations of style lengths of primroses and cowslips.
Discusses dimorphism in linum and primula. Describes death of Mrs. Ashworth.
Convinced length of stamens has no relation to powers of fertilisation in many plants.
Suggests experiments on Pelargonium and Phlox.
Advises about use of microscope.
His satisfaction at CD’s acceptance of book as well as total public acceptance. Murray has given him a £250 advance. His pleasure at Asa Gray’s words.
Next task will be to write on origin [of species] by segregation of local races.
Impressed by JS’s attempts to fertilise Gongora.
CD has large collection of notes on orchids, but does not know when he will publish on them again.
Asks for JS’s papers on sterility of individual orchids and on Drosera.
Sends observations on [Anchusa] plants from Isle of Wight.
Glad to hear of the plant; CD instructs WED to make further observations. If it is a good case he will insist on WED’s sending a communication to the Linnean Society.
Replies to a reviewer’s statement, that any theory of descent will connect large classes of facts, by pointing out that no other explanation has been as satisfactory as natural selection. But whatever view is adopted "signifies extremely little in comparison with the admission that species have descended from other species and have not been created immutable".
Discusses dimorphic plants.
Encloses plants derived from a cowslip–polyanthus cross.
Glad CD likes his Presidential Address to Geological Society [1863].
Will continue the practice [of discussing the break in succession of strata].
Has devised a diagram showing number of genera and species in each geological formation and the number that pass from formation to formation.
Describes the glaciated terrain of S. Wales.
CD is right on heterostyly in Primula. High praise. Has confirmed it with Primula polyanthus.
Falconer going to France in defence of his views.
On scientific squabbling.
Herschel’s theory of the earth.
Bates’s book.
Falconer’s letter [attacking CL, Athenæum 4 Apr 1863, pp. 459–60] is most unjust.
Regrets his letter [to Athenæum, on heterogeny] now criticised by Owen.
Comments on article by Samuel Haughton [On the form of cells made by wasps – with an appendix on the origin of species (1863)].
Mentions forthcoming reviews by Asa Gray [in Am. J. Sci.].
Describes the structure of Corydalis and its arrangement for making pollen accessible to bees.
JDH encourages a Mr Salwyn [Osbert Salvin] to collect in Galapagos; would like CD to add his encouragement.
Has pleasure in giving GS a testimonial for the office of surveyor for the Bromley District.
ARW listed along with Hooker, Huxley, Lubbock and Bates as the "only honest downright "flat-footed" men in all England!!!".
Sends photos of the niata ox skull presented by CD.
Lists the six honest believers in his species theory in England.
Asa Gray complains that Lyell acts like a judge on species, whereas CD complains of Lyell’s indecision.
CD working on divergence of leaves.
Distribution of Cameroon plants and the glacial theory.
Survival of island relics.