Summary

RT’s argument about the Lasiocampa strikes him as very good; asks for any similar cases. Wonders whether male butterflies may serve more than one female.

Summary

Thanks RT for letter which saves him from a "terrible mistake": that no moths were more brilliantly coloured beneath than above. Suggests revised version for comment. [See Descent 1: 397.]

Summary

Thanks RT for drawings of ocelli, especially for the description of ocelli of S. African Saturniidae. Would like to know of any cases in which the ocelli are confined to the male, to illustrate better the case of the peacock.

Summary

Has tried using dealers’ price-lists as a guide to sex ratios in Lepidoptera; finds numerous cases in which the sexes bring different prices and in virtually all of them the males are cheaper. This seems to confirm the impression of the field collectors.

Wishes RT good luck with natural history in S. Africa.

Summary

Arranges for RT to call.

Summary

Asks whether RT will call.

Summary

Is interested in the relative numbers of males and females of all animals; wants any instances of males, or females, being in excess.

Summary

On attraction of males by females in moths. H. T. Stainton mentions a case.

Summary

CD seeks information on the variation of ocelli within species of butterflies.

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Sends prospectus of forthcoming work by his brother [Henry Trimen] and W. T. Thiselton-Dyer [Flora of Middlesex (1869)]. Hopes CD will subscribe.

Summary

Variations in the ocelli of Lepidoptera.

Encloses six pages from his catalogue of S. African butterflies [Rhopalocera Africae australis, 2 pts (1862, 1866)].

Summary

Extract from Émile Blanchard’s Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insectes [1868], on attraction of males by female Lepidoptera, and possible explanation.

Summary

Approves CD’s revision on coloration of moths.

Impressed with apparent adverse tendencies: one toward sexual selection, the other toward protection.

Summary

Coloration in moths.

Quotes Achille Guénée on relative proportion of sexes in Phalaenites.

Summary

Proportion of sexes in butterflies; discussion of subject at meeting of Entomological Society, London.

Attraction of males by female Lasiocampa quercus. [see Descent 1: 311–12.]

Summary

Supplies names of moths and references.

Describes his breeding experiments with butterflies to test effects of reduced light.

Summary

Thanks HWB for bringing "the question of sexes" before the Entomological Society. Feels he will come to some conclusion by comparison of numerous observations.

It appears Pangenesis "will expire unblessed and uncursed by the world".

Summary

Invites RT to come to Down for a week-end.

Summary

CD thanks JJW for the mine of information his last "ten!" letters contain. Comments on sexual display of pheasants and colour preferences of pigeons.

Asks about hens that pair earliest in spring and about possible existence of unpaired birds.