Summary

Thanks for present of Studien [zur Descendenz-Theorie, vol. 2 (1876)].

Summary

Comments on Weismann’s remarks on the possibility of sexual selection in the genus Daphnia.

A. R. Wallace has published paper giving up sexual selection [Review of St George Jackson Mivart’s Lessons from nature, as manifested in mind and matter.] in Academy, 10 and 17 June 1876, pp. 587–8.]

Summary

Thanks for AW’s work ["Zur Naturgeschichte der Daphniden", Z. Wiss. Zool. 27: 51–112; 28: 93–254; 30 (suppl.): 123–65; 33: 55–270]. CD always interested in adaptations which appear to owe their structure to other causes.

Has not heard from Raphael Meldola for a long time about translation of AW’s Studien.

Summary

Does not think the Petunia is anything remarkable.

Summary

Has received interesting essay from August Weismann on sexual selection in daphnoids [“Schmuckfarben der Daphnoiden”, Z. Wiss. Zool. (1878)].

Summary

Hopes RM finds a publisher [for his translation of Weismann’s Studien].

Summary

Would like to read Weismann’s essay on Daphnidae.

Fritz Müller’s paper on odours emitted by butterflies was read at last Entomological Society meeting.

Summary

Would like to see the Kosmos article.

Is considering producing a translation of August Weismann’s essays.

Comments on Wallace’s paper on the colours of animals and plants [Macmillan’s Magazine 36 (1877): 384–408, 464–71].

Summary

Does not think Fritz Müller can object to anything RM has said in his essay.

Has alluded to colour preference among butterflies in Descent [1: 400–1].

Summary

Response to Wallace’s article ["The colours of animals and plants", Macmillan’s Mag. (Sept 1877)] on sexual colours and "voluntary" sexual selection.

Summary

Wishes to borrow third part of Fritz Müller’s article on sexual selection in butterflies [Kosmos 2 (1877–8): 218–24].

Is forwarding material on stridulation, including Prof. Wood-Mason’s paper ["Note on Mygale stridulans", Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1877): 281–2], which should interest CD.

Summary

Will do his best to provide preface for Weismann’s Studien [see Collected papers 2: 280–1].

Summary

Thinks Weismann would welcome a translation.

Was dissatisfied with Wallace’s article.

Summary

Comments on AW’s book [Studien zur Descendenz-Theorie (1875–6)], especially on mimicry in caterpillars.

Mentions sets of drawings of British Lepidoptera in all stages. Would AW like to see them?

Summary

Plans to produce a translation of Weismann’s Studien zur Descendenz-Theorie [1875–6] and would welcome a preface from CD.

Summary

Notes Julius Sachs’s opinion on the heliotropism of moulds: he can see no use in the response.

C. E. Stahl is working on swarm spores which can be made both helio- and apheliotropic.

Sachs has told him that some ferns sleep, and he suspects that some grasses may move.

Sachs also feels they may be working at bloom from a wrong point of view and suggests leaves may need to keep dry in order to keep their stomata open.

Summary

German edition of Erasmus Darwin delayed because Murray has not sent phototypes and galvanographs.

Two of CD’s articles from Nature to appear in April Kosmos ["Sexual colours in butterflies", Collected papers 2: 220–2, Kosmos 7 (1880): 72–4;

"Fertility of hybrids from the Chinese goose", Collected papers 2: 219–20, Kosmos 7 (1880): 77–8].

Moritz Wagner will begin a series criticising natural selection.