Summary

The die is cast on Ayrton affair. Lord Derby has called for all of the correspondence, as a result of pressure by men of science on JDH’s behalf.

Has just had a Greenland collection, which supports his views altogether; "I am ready to do fight for these with you."

Summary

Sends CD a copy of the memorial supporting Hooker’s case against A. S. Ayrton’s interference in the administration of Kew Gardens.

Summary

Will let CIFM know [probably about John Murray’s terms for an Italian translation of Expression].

Thanks for information about hornless fossil Bos etruscus and Miocene fossils of genus Sus [see Descent, 2d ed., pp. 505, 521].

Summary

Outlines his theory on the origin of existing orders of leaf arrangement. Believes spiral and whorled orders have evolved from a primitive distichous arrangement. These arrangements permit a compact bud form of small surface area that can withstand external changes in temperature, and in particular can tolerate frost.

Summary

Sends paper on the coasts of Alaska.

Wishes to sell his large Russian palaeontological collection.

Wants to get in touch with American (Mr Dall), who is going to study geology of Alaskan and Aleutian coast.

Summary

Worm action at Stonehenge.

Summary

CD cannot omit mention of Wilhelm Wundt’s Thierseele [Vorlesungen über die Menschen und Thierseele (1863)] in his book.

Murray could control the number of copies of translation of Expression sold in Russia by the number of heliotypes he will supply.

Summary

A. G. Butler has named the specimens sent by CD with Fritz Müller’s letter.

Sends several facts relating to sexual selection, mimicry, and hybrids.

Discusses the possibility that mimicked and mimicking forms have descended from originally allied forms and have diverged in structure but not in appearance.

Summary

Wants references to the work of Julius von Haast and James Hector on New Zealand glaciers, which CD mentions in the Origin [6th ed., p. 335].

Summary

Alexander [Kovalevsky] is intent on assisting Russian publication of Expression. Sends estimates of costs and profits. At 7s 6d per copy a net profit of £150–200 is expected.

Wilhelm Wundt [Menschen und Thierseele (1863)] probably of no use.

Summary

Amount of clay present in certain chalk samples.

Summary

If decapod does not pass through zoea stage, is this acceleration? If hypothetical adult retained zoea characters, would this be retardation? Believes obliteration of growth stages frequently due to natural selection. Most interesting points in AH’s letter deal with senile characters. CD attributes them to laws of growth not selection. Explains degraded characters as result of readaptation to simpler conditions. Believes no innate tendency to progressive development exists.

Hopes AH visits F. Hilgendorf’s famous deposit [at Steinheim]. A. Weismann [Einfluss der Isolierung (1872)] makes good use of Hilgendorf’s observations.

Summary

Wild plants that live at the edges of civilisation, e.g., forest flowers growing on grazed land, are always reduced in size.

Summary

Sends proof-sheets [of Expression].

Is unwell and must stop work and leave home for a time.

Summary

Data relating to experiments; shrinkage of earth on drying.

Summary

Informs CD that he has forwarded some oils and opium.

Summary

Introduces himself as an acquaintance of E. A. Darwin. Offers miscellaneous observations on human expression.

Summary

Comments on enclosed discussion of S. American geology by Agassiz. Mentions elevation of Patagonia and glaciation.

Summary

Praise for Descent.

Summary

CD believes that StGJM has been unfair in his criticisms and has misrepresented him; he begs him not to write again. "Agassiz has uttered splendid sarcasms on me, but I still feel quite friendly towards him. M. Flourens cd. not find words to express his contempt of me: Pictet & Hopkins argued with great force against me: Fleeming Jenkin covered me with first-rate ridicule; & his crticisms were true & most useful: but none of their writings have mortified me as yours have done …" [See 8154.]