No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Comments on Descent.
Attempts to explain differing sex ratios in births from illegitimate unions, Jewish marriages, and Christian marriages.
Speculates on role of male and female elements in conception.
Thinks survival of individual conflicts in some degree with survival of species; for example, hybrids often live longer than fertile individuals.
No summary available.
Renews subscription to Index.
Was interested in FEA’s lecture on "The God of science" [Index 24 Feb 1872].
Marked "Private" giving notice of there being insufficient funds from the Treasury to pay for a Director of the Bethnal Green Museum. Also giving indication of the Museum's likely future away from Natural History.
Thanks for AG’s book, How plants behave [see 8363].
Is correcting proofs of Expression.
Has read JD’s articles in the Gardeners’ Chronicle [(1872): 872, 904–5].
Questions him on the fertility of certain varieties of Pelargonium which are fertile with some varieties but infertile with others.
Sends publication details of Coral reefs, which he thinks is now only available in Geology of the ‘Beagle’: Geological observations on coral reefs, volcanic islands, and on South America.
CD wants no more alterations than are necessary [to proofs of Expression]. Warns LD that "any alteration seems at first an improvement".
No summary available.
Replies to CD’s queries. Duke of Cornwall Pelargonium is fertile with its own pollen. Has failed to produce hybrids from other varieties besides P. peltatum and P. elegans. Sends numbers of the Florist which contain an account of his mode of procedure ["On cross-breeding pelargoniums" Florist & Pomologist (1872): 10, 34, 50].
Reports a confirmation of his theory of the prepotence of the male parent.
Overjoyed at the way the newspapers have taken up JDH’s case. The memorial has done great good this way, whatever the wretched Government does. It is enough to make one a Tory. JDH has done a service to all men of science by showing governments that they cannot be trampled on.
Comments on enclosed discussion of S. American geology by Agassiz. Mentions elevation of Patagonia and glaciation.
Has not strength or time to hunt for Herminium monorchis; has failed to make orchid seeds germinate.
Will not pass through London, so will not be able to call at Down.
Asks whether he can start soon on translating Expression.
Thinks CD has gone a little too far on St G. J. Mivart’s objection, which he thinks did very little harm in Germany.
JVC’s history of zoology is finished [Geschichte der Zoologie bis auf Joh. Müller und Charl. Darwin (1872)].
Discusses JD’s crossing experiments with Pelargonium; notes that his conclusions on male prepotence oppose those of Gärtner. Suggests that his observations on differences in fertility of certain varieties of Pelargonium crossed with certain other varieties be communicated to the Linnean Society.
Thanks CD for invitation but declines because of his need for a rest instead of coming to England in July.
Repeats his offer to help CD at any time. "I am always learning by trying to answer your questions."
No summary available.