Extract from Émile Blanchard’s Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insectes [1868], on attraction of males by female Lepidoptera, and possible explanation.
BDW’s letter [6051?] and his notes are a "mine of wealth". The negative evidence is of much value. Sexual selection is a perplexing subject – finds he "must make the best of a rather bad job".
Sends copy [of Variation].
Solicits CD’s support for the newly set up Royal Horticultural Society’s Scientific Committee.
Very pleased that he was put into CD’s book [Variation 1: 352].
Sends "hybridising pincers" of his own making.
Has some "vegetable caterpillars" from New Zealand and will be pleased to show them to CD if he is interested.
About the advertising and title of a book [the translation of Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin, see 6114].
Has tried using dealers’ price-lists as a guide to sex ratios in Lepidoptera; finds numerous cases in which the sexes bring different prices and in virtually all of them the males are cheaper. This seems to confirm the impression of the field collectors.
Wishes RT good luck with natural history in S. Africa.
No summary available.
Starlings find new mates readily. Nesting in threes common.
Recognition of song by birds.
CD has questions related to colour differences in the sexes of butterflies, especially in relation to HWB’s paper ["On variation in sexes of Argynnis diana", Proc. Entomol. Soc. Philadelphia 4 (1865): 204–7].
Mentions that his MS on Lepidoptera [for Descent] is longer than he intended and the information is four-fifths owed to HWB.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Gives details of the subjects on whom Langstaff made his observations on crying. Langstaff has not seen the platysma contract under chloroform.
Submits lists of insects [missing] for correspondent to check whether brightly coloured. Wants to determine whether there is any relation between bright colouring, whether in both sexes or one alone, and an unequal number of males and females.
Admires ARW’s "Theory of birds’ nests" [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 73].
Discusses their respective views on birds’ nests, sexual selection, and protection.
Asks why, if brilliant colours of female butterflies are result of protective mimicry, do not males become equally brilliant? CD believes variation in females alone accounts for it, rather than protection.
Is graphically charting the sun and planets to compare them. Explains the lines and positions of bodies in his diagrams.
Asks WED whether Langstaff could make some observations on certain facial muscles in expression.
No summary available.
Describes a curious litter of rabbits.
Pairing of rooks, courtship of golden pheasant.
Behaviour of finch hybrids.
Seasonal coloration of birds; bright plumage results from sexual selection.
In reading Variation, notices CD has not observed that after mallards have been domesticated their claws turn from black to white.
He and another Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn have signed the necessary certificates for admission of CD’s son [George].
