Summary

On why it is said Indian elephants do not breed in captivity; mating habits of male so violent as to require restraint.

Summary

Hybrid geese.

Proportions of sexes in sheep and cattle.

Pairing habits of crows.

Summary

Sends abstract of his views on change of climate and a copy of a paper.

Summary

Glacial climates.

Summary

Requests autograph.

Summary

Full background on the difficulties of the vicarage of Down.

Summary

Describes a supposed cross between a cow and a red deer or doe.

Summary

Thanks for the pamphlets; JL’s paper, "Primitive condition of man" [Nat. Hist. Rev. n.s. 6 (1868): 328].

Summary

Sends news of his and Frank’s doings at Cambridge.

Summary

Sends letter [from Haeckel?] opened by mistake.

August Schleicher a great loss.

Summary

On spurs in peacocks. [See Descent 1: 290 n.]

Summary

Will try to get more information about the supposed hybrid [of cow and deer].

The rumours about John Robinson [curate of Down] cause JBI concern. He will seek to get the facts – will try to protect Robinson against malicious rumours, but if he is immoral he must go forthwith.

Summary

Hopes Miss [Sarah Elizabeth] Wedgwood will sell part of her land for a parsonage at Down. Recounts his futile efforts to obtain land in the past.

Encloses news item about the supposed hybrid [of cow and deer].

Summary

Apologises; CD is correct: the object his foreman found is not organic.

Summary

Results of his breeding have not borne out his opinion that females are more numerous in Lepidoptera [see Descent 1: 313]. Still convinced he is right, suggests only way to settle question is by controlled breeding of large numbers of each species.

Summary

Has forwarded a veterinary surgeon’s description of the supposed hybrid [of cow and deer, see 6504]. A neighbour who has seen it is convinced it is genuine.

JBI can do no more about John Robinson.

Summary

The first half of vol. 2 of Variation is printed.

News of his marriage.

Sends portraits of Russian scientists.

Hopes CD will write his book on man and asks permission to translate it.

Moving to Germany for two or three years.

Summary

T. H. Farrer’s paper is capital.

Summary

Observations that confirm CD’s deduction that half-bred Persian cats are fruitful one with another. Relates case of Persian characters reappearing in the offspring of a common cat which was the descendant of a half-bred Persian.

Summary

On the development of horns in Lapland reindeer. [See Descent 1: 288.]