Summary

Thanks for his long letter on morphological laws.

Summary

CD writes about stereotypes for German and Russian editions of Variation.

Summary

CD is delighted that JVC will undertake translation of Variation.

Agrees with JVC’s opinion of Haeckel’s book [Generelle Morphologie (1866)]. CD believes it is bad policy for Haeckel to speak so positively about a disputed theory [i.e., CD’s] and particularly regrets the severity of EH’s criticisms of other authors.

Summary

Would be great honour to have CV translate Variation, but Schweizerbart has arranged for J. V. Carus to do it.

Has read CV’s Lectures on man [1864] with extreme interest.

Summary

Struck by singular clarity of EH’s Generelle Morphologie. Remarks on various authors seem too severe. Severity leads the reader to take the side of the attacked person.

Making slow progress in correcting Variation.

Summary

Agrees with JDH about Anderson-Henry. He has however described in detail a curious case of the ovaria of Rhododendron directly affected by foreign pollen, like the Chamaerops and date-palm case.

Summary

Reassures JVC [who had received the impression that CD would prefer Carl Vogt as translator of Variation].

CD surprised at receipt of an application for a Russian translation.

Summary

Sends the revisions in the latest edition of Origin.

Summary

Self-sterility in orchids.

Growth differences in plants raised from self- and cross-fertilised seed.

Summary

Has sent JDH’s Genera plantarum to Fritz Müller who finds it useful and offers to supply JDH with Brazilian plants.

Summary

Comments on ARW’s view of colouring in relation to sexual selection and protection. It is not new to CD. Hopes to discuss subject fully in his "Essay on Man" [Descent]. As to the problem of brightly coloured females, CD is not satisfied that it is due to males taking over incubation. Admires "value and beauty" of ARW’s generalisations.

Summary

Regrets that he is too busy getting his book [Variation] ready for publication to contribute an article to Fraser’s Magazine.

Summary

CD has sent some revised proof-sheets and ordered the stereotypes [for Russian translation of Variation]. First volume is dull, but he hopes second is more interesting.

Summary

Thanks LR for sending his works.

Correcting proofs of Variation.

Chapter on pigs and cattle derived mostly from LR’s work.

Summary

Returns ARW’s notes. He will work up subject much better than CD.

Apologises for the note of illiberality in his letter regarding ARW’s work on the colouring and other sexual differences in mammals.

Discusses laws of inheritance based on sexual selection.

He questions the extent of applicability of principles of protection and sexual selection to lower animal forms, though Ernst Haeckel has shown how protection may account for transparency and absence of colour in lower oceanic animals.

Summary

Contributes to a memorial for Richard Dawes.

Describes his health.

Summary

Sends proof-sheets [of Variation]. Will not charge VOK for right of translation.

Summary

Sends Fritz Müller’s address; has sent him Insular floras [pamphlet].

Summary

CD is sorry proof-sheets were lost; hopes clean sheets will have arrived.

Summary

Glad to hear Wallace is contender for Gold Medal. Has highest esteem for his extraordinary talents.

Thanks for H. Barkly’s letter from Mauritius.

Glad to see HB takes same view as CD about bones of deer [see 5395].

Objections to continental extension theory.

Progress [on Variation] very slow.