Summary

Accepts invitation.

Summary

ARW’s wife will accompany him to Down.

Summary

On sounds produced by Euchirus longimanus beetle. Sends a pair by post.

Summary

Submits a 15–point argument against CD’s views on the coloration of female birds and insects.

Summary

Sexual differences in coloration. Sexual selection versus natural selection as explanations. ARW continues to argue against sexual selection, saying that natural selection, in keeping the female dull for protection, would account for differences in sexual colouring more effectively than inheritance and partial transmission of sexually selected male colours. Colours of female birds of paradise. Protective coloration. Disagrees with CD on coincidence of hidden nests and bright colours of females.

Summary

Dedication of Malay Archipelago to CD.

Comments on scientific papers.

Summary

Argues that [general variability] of species, not single variations or sports, is basis for modification and adaptation to new conditions.

Summary

Weir’s paper on relation of protection to colour of caterpillars [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1869): 21–6; (1870): 337–9] confirms ARW’s hypothesis.

Summary

Comments on Fritz Müller’s book [Facts and arguments for Darwin].

Responds to CD’s corrections of his work [Malay Archipelago].

Plumage of birds of paradise.

Summary

Expands upon their differences in regard to man and the question of the existence of forces not yet recognised by science.

Summary

Asks whether sexual selection could produce the changing plumules or "battledore" scales on the wings of certain butterflies.

Summary

Looks forward to Descent, though he expects to find more to differ with than in any other of CD’s books.

Problems of usefulness of incipient organs and of the independent origin of similar complex organs are real difficulties.

Plans a little book on "Distribution of animals".

Summary

Inquires about arrangements for the German translation and publication of their original Linnean Society papers [Collected papers 2: 3–19].

ARW thinks he has hit upon a solution to problem of geological time.

Summary

Plans for his new book, Contributions to the theory of natural selection (1870), which will contain his papers on the subject.

Summary

Thanks for the drawing.

E. Claparède’s review [of Theory of natural selection, Rev. Cours Sci. 7 (1870): 564–71] is weak.

Looks forward [to Descent] with fear of being "crushed under a mountain of facts!"

Summary

On a good criticism of ARW’s views [North Am. Rev. (1870)].

Problems of establishing a permanent residence.

His Presidential Address for Entomological Society will answer A. Murray on geographical distribution of Coleoptera.

Summary

Response to [vol. 1 of] CD’s Descent.

Not yet convinced on sexual selection and protection, though their differences are not so great as CD thinks.

On man, he does not think CD has accounted for every step of his development by "ascertained laws".