Summary

Praises Dareste’s work on teratology; is convinced that it will be highly valued.

Is working on Variation; will send a copy when published.

Summary

CD’s letter [3992] gave him encouragement in his work [on monstrosities], which, he regrets, is little understood or appreciated in France. Hopes to be able to produce anomalies at will as a result of his experiments. Sends a recent paper ["Rapport sur un veau monstrueux", Arch. Com. Agric. Arrondissement Lille (1867)].

Summary

Has found a remarkable anatomical character in the niata skull of which he wrote [see 5540]. Asks whether the skull CD brought from South America [at the Royal College of Surgeons] shows the same character. If so, it would provide incontestable evidence of the origin of this race of cattle.

Summary

Thanks for Variation.

CD must be happy about the tendency toward acceptance of his views, though it is regrettable that France is backward in this regard.

His own work goes slowly, but he still hopes his work on artificially produced monstrosities will help to answer the question of the origin of species.

Summary

Is much obliged for AG’s two memoirs ["Mémoire sur le reptile découvert par M. Frossard", Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. 3 (1867): 21–40; Bull. Soc. Géol. France 2d ser. 24 (1867): 397–400].

All "inosculating forms" are very interesting to CD.

Agrees with AG on the importance of attempts to affiliate extinct and existing species.

Will send French edition of Variation when published.

Summary

Asks CD to write a letter sponsoring him for the Chair of Comparative Physiology at Paris. There are some who do not think his work on artificial production of monstrosities belongs in physiology.

Summary

CD’s letter on his behalf made a great impression, but his candidacy nevertheless failed, largely owing to the hostility of Claude Bernard. CD’s opinion sustains his belief that his work will be a service to science.