Summary

Is the horned toad of Oregon a batrachian or a lizard?

Hopes AG will be promoted in the British Museum.

Summary

Will FD try to persuade A. D. Bartlett to show a live snake to a porcupine and observe whether the porcupine rattles the quills on its tail? [See 8333.]

Summary

Thanks for information on sexual colours in pigeons.

Will send latest edition of Origin.

Summary

Acknowledges election as Honorary Member of the New Zealand Institute [now Royal Society N. Z.].

Summary

Is sorry JDH cannot come to Down.

Hopes the House of Lords "pitch into the accursed fellow" [Ayrton].

Summary

Comments on drawings of hostile dog and affectionate dog.

Sends small gift of money.

Summary

Sends £35 as his subscription towards the building of a vicarage.

Summary

Please to send to Briton Riviere the block with the drawing of the dog, and a new block of the same size.

Summary

Comments on migration as a factor in evolution. Suggests pamphlet by August Weismann on the subject [Über den Einfluss der Isolierung (1872)].

Summary

Discusses books about cats and crosses in cats. Thanks her for her book on cats.

Summary

Agrees to care for FG’s rabbits and will breed from them.

Plans to go to Southampton for ten days.

Summary

Comments on drawing of dog. Will get it engraved [see Expression, pp. 52, 53].

Will send MS of Expression to printers next week.

Summary

Send parcel to Orpington station.

Summary

Thanks him for interesting letter from a Mr Wood on heredity in fruit-trees.

Summary

CW’s article responding to Mivart [see 8351] on the fixity of species is very clear.

On evolution of language, CD doubts W. D. Whitney’s claim that changes are effected by the will of man. Asks CW when a thing may properly be said to be so effected.

Summary

Thanks her for drawing of dog.

Summary

Thanks WALM for having sent interesting publications, especially the one on relation of structure of man to lower animals,

and just a few days since, on protuberances on bird skulls. WALM’s facts on the latter subject have an important bearing on the acquisition of sexual characters. CD is pleased that the influence of sexual selection is admitted.

Summary

Agrees to read paper; warns he lacks mathematical knowledge.

Summary

Expresses his "unbounded admiration" for HS’s article on Martineau ["Mr Martineau on evolution", Contemp. Rev. 20 (1872): 141–54]

and his article on sociology [Contemp. Rev. 19 (1872): 701–18]. CD never believed in the reigning influence of great men on the world’s progress but could not have given his reasons. "Now every one with eyes to see and ears to hear . . . ought to bow their knee to you, as I for one do."

Summary

Thanks for his election to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.