Summary

Reports success of hybrid cross with Vallota and the failure of another cross.

Summary

Has followed correspondent’s useful suggestions of sources of information [on variation in domesticated animals in various regions of the globe].

Asks him to sound out [Mr Consul Brand?] about skinning some bird specimens for him.

Summary

Sends a book on clubs, which has raised some worrisome questions about the [Down Friendly] Club. Asks JSH’s advice.

Summary

His thanks for the present [The works of William Hewson, edited by GG, 1846]. [See 1796.]

Summary

Cites [from Gärtner’s Bastarderzeugung (1849), p. 157] a report that seeds from graves of ancient Gauls germinated.

Summary

CD requests accurate information on the extent to which the different varieties of fruit-trees produce seedlings like their parents. Do some varieties of pears and apples tend to produce truer offspring than other varieties?

Summary

Gives references to William Allen’s narrative of the Niger expedition [William Allen and T. R. H. Thompson , A narrative of the expedition sent by Her Majesty’s Government to the river Niger in 1841 (1848)]: common fowl returning to wildness, details of domestic sheep, ducks, and white fowl.

Range of the fallow deer; its affinity to the Barbary stag.

Natural propensity of donkeys for arid desert.

Indian donkeys often have zebra markings on the legs.

Believes the common domestic cat of India is indigenous.

Occurrence of cultivated plants from Europe in India; success of cultivation. Ancient history of cultivated plants.

[CD’s notes are an abstract of this memorandum and indicate that it was originally 20 pages long.]

Summary

CD has more specimens of Helix pomatia.

Thanks for Lepidoptera book.

Invites JL to dinner.

Summary

Discusses distribution of shells.

"Dr Gully did me much good." Hopes WHB profited by water cure.

Summary

CD hopes to have an hour’s talk with CJFB before CD leaves London.

Summary

Accepts invitation for the 20th.

Summary

Provides another case of apparently pure bred pointers producing litter with one setter puppy. Correspondent was told that this occurred in several litters; gives names of owners and others who can corroborate the information.

Summary

Five questions on variability in peas.

W & JF recommended to CD by Mr Cattell.

CD planted an experimental pea garden this summer.

Summary

Responds to CD’s criticism of his use of word "Kingdom" in discussing geographical distribution of Crustacea.

Summary

The only mainland vegetation he saw on Falkland Island shores were trees. Remembers no strange birds there, but on journey home saw a woodcock more than 500 miles from the nearest land.

Summary

Thanks for FG’s note and trouble in searching out pigeons.

Is obliged to FG for obtaining C. J. Andersson’s offer of information about breeds of cattle in South Africa.

Summary

Reports that he sees the oxlip, cowslip, and primrose as really distinct species; hybrids are formed between any two.

Summary

Cancelled: part of 1757. Has examined a specimen of [of what he had previously described as the ovaria of Lepadidae, see Living Cirripedia 1: 57-8]. Could not find cells resembling ovigerms. When THH has seen the organ in different states, and can say positively that in none could ovigerms be in formation, CD will 'give up the ghost handsomely and entirely'.

Summary

CD has suggested an explanation of how pike were introduced to a remote lake in Ireland by cormorants [carrying pike spawn on their feet or in their gullets].

Summary

Gives instances of sexual differences in the number of tarsi within species of Coleoptera and also variation in the number of tarsi between related species.