Asks whether CD has any observations to make on J. R. L. Delboeuf’s article ["Les mathématiques et la transformisme"] in Revue Scientifique [2d ser. 29 (1877): 669–79]. He would be pleased to receive a letter or article for publication.
Concerning the publication of a French edition of Coral Reefs.
No summary available.
On Royal Society Council’s deliberations on awards. GJA argues that older men should be given first claim lest they die neglected; CD had stressed importance of encouraging younger men.
Describes case of two varieties of Russian wheat, the kubanka (or White Turkish) and the saxonka, which grow side by side with no intermediate varieties. As kubanka gradually yields place to saxonka, thinks an unusual tendency to jumping variation [saltation] operates; suggests CD urge some young botanist to investigate [see ML 2: 419–22].
On receiving CD’s letter GMA wrote for wheat seeds to send CD. Gives information on the wheat and on grasses to suggest that variability of the soil accounts for replacement of kubanka by saxonka.
Regarding CD’s inability to find a young botanist to investigate Russian wheat; comments on utter lack of organisation in scientific research in Britain as compared with Germany.
Gives arguments against CD’s suggestion that the saxonka seeds could have long dormancy period which would account for their gradual overtaking of kubanka.
CD awarded honorary LL.D. degree by Cambridge University. [See 11212.]
His discovery that in the binocular vision of the stereoscope faces can be blended with decided improvement in beauty. Suggests the possibility of experiments in thus photographing the faces of animals, different races and orders of men.
No summary available.
Thinks flowers of Hottonia project from the stem nearly horizontally, perhaps slightly upwards.
Sorry that he cannot help with Pulmonaria angustifolia.
Has noticed citation of his observations in CD’s latest books; writes to add some notes on fertilisation and forms of flowers.
Encloses flowers. Long-styled form may be a sport.
Encloses extract [missing] on a caterpillar.
Mentions William Buckler’s magnificent drawings of caterpillars [The larvae of the British butterflies and moths, Ray Soc. (1886–91)], but doubts Buckler will lend them for any Darwinian purpose. John Hellins has a portion of drawings and is more liberal.
CD elected unanimously as a foreign member of the Dutch Society of Sciences. [See 10970.]
No summary available.
No summary available.
Sends letter clipped from Manchester Courier on CD’s accounting for scarcity of holly berries by scarcity of bees, and writer’s explanation of latter.
Intends to name his son after CD.
TB is seeking a Government grant through the Royal Society so that he can give up his business and pursue his work on the glacial period; wants CD to support him with a note to Hooker.
