Summary

Sends sentences from Hermann von Helmholtz about difference between minor and major chords.

Summary

Having sent CD his two essays outlining his theory on "A secular transposition of oceans" [see 7368], JHS now forwards to CD a book he believes establishes his theory as an "eternal law of nature" [Die neue Theorie periodische säkularer Schwankungen des Seespiegels [periodischer!?] (1872)].

Summary

Glad Mrs Darwin likes his preface, but fears she will not like his tone on religion.

Summary

CD has been elected Honorary Member of Società Italiana di Antropologia e di Etnologia.

Cranial measurements connect man and apes.

He has shown differences between male and female skulls that bear on sexual selection.

Summary

Thanks CD for MS on the routes of male bees.

His "Fertilisation of flowers" is complete [Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)].

Summary

Wants CD’s support for his application for post of Assistant Keeper in Zoological Department of British Museum.

Death of G. R. Gray.

Summary

The die is cast on Ayrton affair. Lord Derby has called for all of the correspondence, as a result of pressure by men of science on JDH’s behalf.

Has just had a Greenland collection, which supports his views altogether; "I am ready to do fight for these with you."

Summary

His chapter on machines in Erewhon has been misunderstood as laughing at the Origin. He was only trying to show how an absurd proposition can be defended with a little ingenuity, distortion, and departure from strict scientific method. Will explain in a second edition, if one is called for.

Summary

Has found the skull of the horned cock.

With regard to CD’s suggestion about the possibility of producing a pigeon breed with differently coloured sexes, WBT reports the results of crossing blue and silver dragons; the silver offspring are almost always hens.

Would like the latest edition of the Origin.

Encloses notes on volume one [of Descent].

Encloses a photograph showing the bleaching effect of the sun’s rays on dun feathers in pigeons.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s testimonial.

Summary

More on Ayrton affair. Conduct of Gladstone and the Ministry despicable. They have owned him to be in right but will not raise a finger until exposure in Parliament is imminent.

Summary

AG’s application for an appointment to Assistant Keeper at the British Museum.

Summary

Sends his article ["Review of Owen’s Cuvierian principle of palaeontology"].

Summary

Reports aggressive reactions of three kinds of porcupines to a snake, concluding that in the wild they would probably kill and eat it [see Expression, pp. 93–4]

Summary

Sends sketches of expressions in two dogs.

Summary

Reports and describes massive hailstones which fell in Petoraghur [Nepal].

Summary

WWR is beginning to appreciate CD’s warnings against his polemical writing.

Summary

Sends quotation from Thomas Moore’s Memoirs [ed. Lord John Russell, (1853–6)] about hereditary peculiarity in handwriting.

On colour-blindness in his family.

Summary

O. Salvin will not be applying for the same post as AG.

Summary

Sends duplicate of his previous letter [8189]; he addressed it simply to C. Darwin, England, and had no reply.