Summary

Thanks CD for a letter to Galton which enabled him to get information on the inhabitants of a part of South Africa. Is trying to work up the ethnology of South Africa, but fears he will become disheartened.

Summary

Admires CD’s ability to work so hard under adverse circumstances; finds his health makes all work an effort.

Summary

Disagrees with CD and especially with Lubbock and McLennan about communal marriage. [See Descent 2: 361–3.]

Summary

AS has been seriously ill with rheumatic fever.

Is studying the natives of South Africa to see whether he can trace any connection between them and the populations of North Africa.

Summary

On Hottentot ideas of beauty in women; their preference for women with large posteriors. [See Descent 2: 345–6.]

Summary

On Hottentots’ blushing.

Gives case of a baboon’s revenge. [See Descent, 2d ed. (1874), p. 69.]

Summary

Sends his congratulations and best wishes on CD’s marriage.

Summary

Asks JSH to propose him for Geological Society. His meeting with Sir John Herschel and Andrew Smith at Cape of Good Hope.

Summary

Sir Andrew Smith says Hottentots and Kaffirs laugh till they cry.

Summary

CD saw Andrew Smith, who is interested in the subject [of zoological nomenclature], but CD thinks he differs from HES on some points. Sends Smith’s address.

Summary

Recommendations of books of general interest [for the Royal Society library]. These include [Louis] Agassiz’s works, [William] McGillivray’s [History of] British birds, and David Low’s [On the domesticated animals of the British Islands].

Comments on current candidates for the Royal Society.

Summary

Questions correctness of two statements in Origin: 1. That fulmar petrels are the most numerous birds in the world;

2. That the increase of one form of thrush in Scotland has been concomitant with the decline of another form.

Summary

Has collected [Phalli] in Shropshire and compared them with Barmouth species. Is convinced they are different.

Asks JSH for introductions to R. T. Lowe and Andrew Smith.

Has been given another week’s respite by FitzRoy.

Summary

HES’s arguments are of great weight, but CD cannot yet bring himself to reject well-known names for obscure ones. Sends four cases that he thinks will stagger HES. Cites his problems in classifying cirripedes. CD cannot bear to give new names, yet may do wrong to attach old ones. Not one species is correctly defined. The harm done by "species mongers".

Summary

Advice to JDH on problems of printing and publishing.

Remarks on differences of species between islets of Galapagos group.

Summary

CD has heard from the Treasury; they will pay the account [for the Zoology] as soon as Smith, Elder & Co. like.