Summary

On local black-boned fowls,

CD’s new book [Variation], and Pangenesis.

Summary

Both sexes of Crossoptilon auritum (eared pheasant) obtained the red cheeks the first year.

Coloration of the linnet.

Summary

Enjoyed JJW’s visit.

Interested in changes in plumage of pheasants.

Still at work on sexual selection in birds.

Summary

Thanks CD for his promise of support and his flattering opinion of his qualifications for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Geological Society.

Summary

Invites JT to come to Down with the Asa Grays and Hookers.

Summary

Describes departure of expedition to China, Japan, and South America.

Copy of CD’s queries provided to expedition.

Invites CD to make suggestions for scientific work to be carried out.

Summary

Reminds WDF to write about the "great magpie marriage". Sexual selection an "everlasting subject".

News of his children.

Asks for information on instances of sexual preference in animals and data on numbers of males and females born in various domesticated species.

Summary

Fears copy of AW’s publication [Über die Berechtigung der Darwin’schen Theorie (1868)] lost in mail. Asks for another.

Glad AW approves of his work

and objects to Nägeli’s law of perfection.

Thinks Moritz Wagner overrates necessity for emigration and isolation.

Summary

Describes Lappago aleina, a species of South African grass,

and reports his observations on locusts and their feeding habits.

Summary

Thanks KvS for information about expression.

Summary

His correspondents in Lapland will provide CD with the information on reindeer horns. Refers him to Linnaeus, Amoenitates academicae, vol. 4.

Summary

Encloses Queries about expression.

Summary

Delighted with mechanisms of Salvia and Viola. How can anyone who compares structure of Viola cornuta and common violet still suppose them to be separate creations?

Summary

Congratulates CD on success at Cambridge [of George Darwin].

Would like CD to study the anomalous Cardamine pratensis.

Summary

Suggests THF write a paper on violets. Asa Gray, once a sceptic, now declares he is convinced whole structure of a flower is adapted for a cross with another individual.

Urges THF not to give up Pangenesis lightly. "It has thrown light on my mind in regard [to] a great series of complex phenomena."

Summary

Thanks CD for a recent letter.

Reports on his health, which has been bad for 12 months.

Sends extracts of works on domestication.

Discusses the pairing of various birds; comments on the pugnacity of partridges, pheasants, male guinea-fowl, and peacocks.

Gives proportions of sexes in pheasants.

Summary

Thanks BDW for extracts about "drumming" [of male Cicada to attract females].

Asa Gray and Hooker doubt that 13–year and 17–year Cicada forms should be considered distinct species. CD is inclined to agree with them.

Suggests observations be made of ratio of females to males in the rarer form.

Summary

Thanks SN for the reference about the reindeer, received via Hooker.

CD wishes to ascertain whether there is any relation between the period of development of a character and its transmission to one sex alone.

Summary

Writes on various observations and discoveries on dimorphic and trimorphic plants.

Summary

Relates some observations on the expression of elephants; they do not cry unless the eye is hurt or struck. "Perhaps Mr Darwin will like to know the above."