Summary

Sends some cotton seeds for CD.

Summary

Discusses the grazing habits of sheep and cattle on steep hillsides.

Summary

Plans a "Darwin Festival" to celebrate CD’s birthday.

Summary

Sends a map of a field showing the effect of earthworms.

Summary

Responds to article in Nature on the sexual colours of butterflies [Collected papers 2: 220–2].

Summary

Sends a seedling Drosera capensis.

Summary

The violent stranding of floating ice as first mentioned in CD’s article ["Ancient glaciers of Caernarvonshire", Collected papers 1: 163–71] is the most remarkable of the Moel Tryfan phenomena.

Summary

What are functions of "yeomen of the armoury" on p. 1? Who is "old Hooker" on p. 34? Needs to explain them in annotations [to Erasmus Darwin].

Summary

The Birmingham Philosophical Society proposes to celebrate CD’s birthday and make him their first Honorary Member. RLT will draft the address.

Summary

Sends publications.

Discusses comparative anatomy and evolutionary implications of several ligaments.

Thinks effects of Chinese foot-binding are inherited.

Criticises article on Darwinism in Brockhaus’ Lexikon.

Mentions forthcoming book on mammalian vertebrae.

Summary

Sends seed attached to breast feathers of a heron that had been shot.

Summary

SB has decided to lay the matter [the subject of 12393 and 12396] before the public and has written to the Athenæum stating the facts. [Athenæum 31 Jan 1880.]

Summary

Thanks CD for giving money to the children. Is going to give money to Bessy, but not invest it until she is really rich. Returns Butler’s letter. Thinks Butler is looking for a grievance to write an article about.

Summary

Asks CD to write his opinion of the views expressed in "Die Darwin’sche Theorie und die Landwirtschaft" in his journal, Reunion.

Summary

Advises against making any reply to Samuel Butler’s charges.

Summary

Has shown S. Butler’s Athenæum letter to Frederick Pollock, who confirms RBL’s advice that it needs no answer. Sends an imaginary response by Butler.

Summary

WZS, 12-year-old pupil, asks where he can find answer to question of what causes different shades of colour in inhabitants of earth.

Summary

Germination of Megarrhiza. AG’s observations at variance with CD’s.

Summary

Thinks Huxley’s judgment on answering S. Butler’s charges would be trustworthy, though THH is horribly pugnacious and would naturally be for fighting.

Summary

Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.