Has heard from W. Engelmann of Leipzig; he is willing to let CD have the woodcuts to Fritz Müller’s work [Für Darwin (1864)] for 22 thalers.
On the relative size of sexes in aculeate Hymenoptera. [See Descent 1: 347–8.]
No summary available.
Instructions for woodcuts showing sexual differences in beetles, for Descent.
No summary available.
Sends GGS examples of feathers from an albino peacock and repeats his query about the zones of colour [see 5950].
No summary available.
Courtship of goldfinches. Male display. [See Descent 2: 95.]
Regrets and apologises for a misunderstanding regarding Horace’s leaving Clapham School. Is sure he wrote an earlier letter which AW evidently did not receive.
Results of his examination of divergence in sexual coloration of tropical American butterflies. [See Descent 1: 389 on Junonia and Papilio.]
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
[Form letter] Notice of next meeting of Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.
No summary available.
Thanks JH for saving her from publishing a fault-filled book. Describes eruptions of Vesuvius. Agnes [Greig] enjoyed visiting the Herschels. MS wishes she could see them again.
JDH writes to Asa Gray about his taxonomic work on the Rubiaceae family, he mentions the classification of Hedyotis, Gardeniae & Gouldia. JDH regrets the number of specimens, especially African ones, in the herbarium that remain unexamined. He is working on [William Henry] Harvey's book on Cape Genera: he will do the ferns & Lycopods but not the lower Cryptogams, [William] Munro is doing the grasses. Gay's herbarium has arrived. JDH apologises for trouble with a case of [Francis] Boott's Carices [Carex] sent to Gray. Cannot answer [Charles] Wright's letters on Rubiaceae until he has finished his systematic work on the order. Is critical of [August Heinrich Rudolf] Grisebach's work, especially on Melastoma, also mentions Wright's Cuban Melastoma. Suggests the Smithsonian Institute would undertake a particular publication[?] for Gray. Thanks Gray for seeds incl. Picea amabilis & Pera. Discusses the fact that the United States of America & the United Kingdom have different systems of Government. Asks if Gray has read [Charles] Darwin's last book [THE VARIATION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS UNDER DOMESTICATION [?]] & gives his opinion, at length, on the chapters on heredity through Pangenesis - he considers heredity self evident from observation of propagation & inherent in the acceptance of the theory of natural selection. In a post script JDH adds that he has for sale all the sets of Boott's Carices & reduced rate copies of his book [ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE GENUS CAREX]. Proceeds of books sold through JDH will go to Boott's grandmother, who will have the care of his children. Discusses Gray publishing a supplemental part to Boott's book, comprised of additional drawings lithographed by Walter Hood Fitch's nephew, John Fitch, & outlines potential cost.
Had hoped that the intention of removing Horace from school had been abandoned and regrets that it has not.
Discusses tuition arrangements for Horace Darwin.
Assures AW he has not hurt Horace’s feelings. CD has always been doubtful about a private tutor for Horace. Fears a letter [giving notice of removal] was lost in the post.