Summary

EB has had his pension disallowed; is coming to England.

Summary

Wants to know when he may visit CD.

Summary

Has seen some curious hybrid ducks and geese of Bartlett’s. Bartlett will do experiments suggested by CD when he has time.

Summary

Sends some original observations on British ferns [not found].

Has secured a small pension and hopes to acquire a house near Kew.

Summary

Indigenous domestic animals of the New World.

Relationship of Newfoundland and Esquimo dogs to the wolf. Dogs like the Esquimo occur in Tibet and Siberia. Indian pariah dogs and jackals occasionally interbreed.

Describes domestic cats of India; reports cases of their interbreeding with wild cats. Wild cats are tamed for hunting.

Races of silkworm in India are crossed [see 1690].

Domesticated plants, fish, and birds of India.

Comments on local races and species of crows; it is impossible to trace a line of demarcation between races and species.

Variation in the ability of hybrids to propagate.

Indian cattle breeds; differences between Bos indicus and Bos taurus.

Is not satisfied that aboriginally wild species of horse and ass exist.

Believes all fancy breeds of pigeon originated in the East. Wild ancestors of pigeons, ducks, geese, and fowls. Interbreeding of wild species of pheasant.

[CD’s notes are an abstract of this letter.]

Summary

Asks for reference to EB’s article about tame deer on island in Aral Sea.

Summary

Gives CD reference to case of the saiga, an antelope, fearless of man.

Reports observations by New Zealander who has seen heaps of pebbles presumably voided by Dinornis.

Summary

Discussion of origin of domestic sheep races. Some comments on the yak and the wild ancestors of the llama and alpaca.

Summary

Encloses memorandum on Origin [1866]

discussing mimicry in mammals and birds,

abnormal habits shown by birds,

behaviour of cuckoos,

and analogies existing between mammals of the same geographical region.

Speculates on possible lines of development linking groups of mammals.

[CD’s notes on the verso of the letter are for his reply.]

Summary

Asks to meet EB for a walk in the Zoological Gardens.

Summary

Is so unwell he must cancel appointment to meet at Zoological Gardens.

Summary

Many of EB’s remarks about Origin [4th ed. (1866)] are new to CD.

Thinks of writing a short essay on man.

Struck by EB’s remarks about orang. They are similar to Carl Vogt’s remarks on origin of man from distinct ape families.

Thinks similarity of orang to Malay must be accidental.

Will send Variation when it is published.

Summary

Discusses sexual and seasonal differences in the plumage of birds and coats of mammals.

Remarks upon variations in the form of the canine tooth between the sexes in mammalian groups.

Plumage of allied species of plover.

Asks CD’s help with work on unimproved domestic animals.

Summary

Recommends J. Scott’s paper on crossing varieties of Verbascum.

Summary

Discusses mule canaries which show a tendency to revert to wild plumage colours.

Summary

Discusses the origin and characters of sheep breeds, particularly the merino.

Reports observations on reversion to wild type in canary mules

and lists some animals that show a unique development restricted to one side of their bodies.

Summary

Corrects some facts and gives further information on some points for the 2d ed. of Variation.

Specific distinctions among animals.

Cercopithecus of Africa contrasted with the Cebus of South America.

Notes on domestic fowls and their ancestors.

Slow growth of wild animals compared with domestic varieties.

Summary

Detailed notes on secondary sexual differences in various species of birds and mammals.

Summary

Has found EB’s MS most interesting and valuable. Fully half the facts were new to him; will probably use some.