Summary

Sends specimens of gulf-weed and cirripedes for CD to identify.

Various observations on Descent,

inherited deafness,

recognition of musical notes by dog, etc.

Summary

Corrects Descent: snipes do breed in Ireland.

Summary

Is sending his reply to Nature, justifying his misunderstanding as well as he can [see 7717].

Summary

Intends to answer Sir A. Grant’s article if CD does not. [A. Grant, "Philosophy and Mr Darwin", Contemp. Rev. 17 (1871): 274–81; H. Spencer, "Mental evolution", Contemp. Rev. 17 (1871): 461–2.]

Summary

Credit for observation on supra-condyloid foramen in man is really due to Robert Knox, not John Struthers, as in Descent.

Summary

Contraction of platysma occurs during surgery under chloroform from touch of knife, independently of fear.

Summary

After reading Descent, MTM sends report of a dog that woke its master at 7 a.m. on work days and 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Summary

Arrangements for Italian translation of Descent [1871].

Summary

Delighted that CD does not hesitate to follow his theory to its last consequences. "This is far more difficult in England than in Germany."

Wilhelm Müller in his new book [Beiträge zur pathologischen Anatomie und Physiologie des menschlichen Rückenmarks (1871)], adduces many facts in favour of CD’s theory.

Various observations on the human ear. [See Descent, 2d ed., p. 14 n.]

Summary

Offers CD same payment for the 3d issue of Descent as for 2d.

Has bespoke four better drawings of birds in case a 4th issue is needed.

Vanity Fair wants CD’s portrait by Carlo Pellegrini ["Ape"].

Summary

Thanks CD for his letter referring to JWS’s bibliographical paper ["Darwinian bibliography", Z. Ethnol. 3 (1871): 56–67]. Will be glad to inform CD of any additions to the list and would be grateful for information on future publications.

Summary

Paris is in the hands of "brigands and socialists", but one grows accustomed to sporadic bombardment,

and VOK is peacefully studying invertebrate palaeontology collections.

Reports on Paul Gervais’ successful cross between a Triton and an axolotl.

Summary

Wishes to inform CD that, contrary to CD’s impression, natural selection is widely accepted in U. S. by educated men; encloses copies of his lectures, papers, and the Index.

Summary

Writes that he does not share at all in Lionel Beale’s letter in Nature [4 (1871): 25–6];

his new experiments are not hopeful.

Summary

Has arranged a trip to the U. S. with Cambridge friends; believes it would be much jollier if Frank could go too.

Summary

Recommends [W. M. Williams] The fuel of the sun [1870] as remarkably illuminating about physical astronomy. Williams solves the problem of duration of sun’s heat in "a most satisfactory manner".

Summary

Disagrees with CD and especially with Lubbock and McLennan about communal marriage. [See Descent 2: 361–3.]

Summary

He is waiting to hear about the requirements for the MB examination before considering the possible trip to north America.

Summary

Thanks for the cheque, and also for the offer to pay for him to go on a trip to north America with G. H. Darwin.

Summary

Explains about the attendance at St George’s hospital that is required for the MB examaminations, and how this would affect plans for a trip to north America.