From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 12 July 1845]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 43–7
Summary:
Answers CD’s questions relating to the flora of the Galapagos. [See 889.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 Sept [1845]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 14–15
Summary:
JDH’s grandfather’s death.
Collecting testimonials for the Edinburgh chair.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[4–9 Sept 1845]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 208–9
Summary:
The most experienced botanists argue for the "validity of species in nature". Against taxonomic "splitters".
CD’s Cape Tres Montes plants.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
14 Sept 1845
Source of text:
DAR 100: 55–6
Summary:
Thanks for Journal of researches.
Puzzled over pea flower from Cape Tres Montes.
Thinks species a fair and most profitable subject for discussion, but has no formed opinion of his own.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[19 Nov 1845]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 57–8
Summary:
Answers CD’s queries arising from Flora Antarctica.
Would like CD to come to town and go over Galapagos plants with him.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 Feb 1846
Source of text:
DAR 100: 60–2
Summary:
Goes on the assumption that each species has one origin, is immutable, and migrates.
Disagrees with Gaudichaud[-Beaupré] that volcanic island species are polymorphous.
Some mundane genera vary, others do not (Senecio vs Gnaphalium).
John Lindley’s doctrine of longevity of trees is amazing.
Edward Forbes’s health is better.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
2 [Mar] 1846
Source of text:
DAR 100: 63–8
Summary:
Thanks for Edward Forbes’s letter. Botanical evidence conflicts with parts of his theory but supports others. Is becoming more of a migrationist.
Bentham agrees with JDH on polymorphism.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[25 Mar 1846]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 188–91
Summary:
JDH recognises the existence of "altered states" of continental species in island floras. The botanists’ difficulty in determining a new species is no grounds for dismissing the important question of altered forms.
Will look for Ascension plants for Ehrenberg.
French Galapagos collections confirm JDH’s view that plants arrived from north.
Cannot agree with Forbes on North Atlantic flora.
Botanical definition of "highness" and "lowness" usually means complexity and simplicity.
Some plants, such as aquatic ones, are cleistogamous. Cannot see why they should not be.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
30 Mar 1846
Source of text:
Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN/HBSB, N005 NL Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg Nr. 123 Bl. 9)
Summary:
Sends specimens of grasses from Ascension Island for CD to forward to Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.
Includes list of indigenous flowering plants of Ascension Island.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[11–15 Apr 1846]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 205
Summary:
Hugh Falconer gives no specific objections to Forbes’s views.
Botanical contrast between Cape of Good Hope and the rest of Africa is as strong as that between Australia and India.
Wishes CD would leave off snuff.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[before 3 Sept 1846]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 79
Summary:
Has done Edmondston’s Galapagos plants.
Dispute between Edward Forbes and H. C. Watson.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 Sept 1846
Source of text:
DAR 100: 69–72
Summary:
Cannot come to Down to meet B. J. Sulivan as W. H. Harvey is calling.
Plant distribution and soil nature.
Forbes’s modification of Watson’s types of vegetation.
JDH will write comparison of representative plant species of the N. and S. Hemispheres.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[24 Nov 1846]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 77–8
Summary:
Thanks for reading paper. Accepts CD’s criticisms; discussion of some points.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[1 Mar 1847]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 74
Summary:
Will come to 7 Park St. on Wednesday for a palaver on distribution, species mutability, migration, etc.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[c. 4 Mar 1847]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 73
Summary:
Notes on part of CD’s species sketch.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 1 May 1847]
Source of text:
DAR 205.3: 277
Summary:
[Extract of letter to WJH from T. E. Cantor] on zoological distribution in the Malay Peninsula.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
16 June 1847
Source of text:
DAR 100: 75–6
Summary:
JDH’s aunt cannot find lodgings for CD.
Similarities between floras of Tierra del Fuego, Van Diemen’s Land, and New Zealand; does not feel migration sufficient explanation.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Feb – 16 [Mar] 1848
Source of text:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (India letters 1847–51: 52–4 JDH/1/10)
Summary:
Though correspondence has never ebbed so low, CD is constantly in his thoughts.
Observations on cheetahs used as domesticated hunting animals.
Finds geographical barriers sometimes separate species, but also finds species that remain separate where there are no barriers to migration.
Colour "individuates" isolated animal species.
Plains and alpine animal distribution show altitude not strictly analogous to latitude.
Impact of timber cutting on climate has led to extinction of crocodiles.
Will discuss coal formation in letter to Edward Forbes.
CD often asked whether isolated mountains in southern latitudes had closely allied representatives of Arctic and north temperate plants; JDH has found a representative barberry.
Making for Darjeeling via Calcutta.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 February 1848
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.52-54, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
At Madras [Chennai] JDH asked about cheetahs. Conveys observations on their domestication & hunting. Describes hawking practices & birds used. Observes that natural features separate species but this is only one factor, e.g. different antelopes found on either side of River Soane which should not be a barrier to migration. The different types of Indian elephant also an example of races in districts. Discusses kinds of wild & domesticated dogs & cattle. The native Bison is extinct. Sciurus maximus: Peninsular Squirrel, is example of locality-specific colouring. From behaviour of alpine & plain species observes animals are more able to adapt to heat than cold, altitude a factor. JDH wants a specimen of an alligator from Zillah Shahabad. Deforestation changing climate & killing crocodiles. Observes Sand Martins nests colonised by Phalangium spiders & comments on diurnal migration of Neilgherry Ghaats [Nilgiri Ghats] swallows. Plains are alluvial deposits with interesting mineralogy. Will send Forbes a letter re. coal formation. Re. botany, as Darwin is interested in vegetation of isolated mountains, JDH comments on flora of one he climbed incl. barberry. Has found new species of Vallisneria. 4 Mar: JDH left Williams' geological survey to go to Mirzapore, Calcutta [Kolkata] & Darjeeling in Sikkim Himalaya. JDH's address is botanic garden Calcutta, care of Falconer. Recounts passage out to India. Has stayed with Sir L. Peel, Mr Colvile nephew of Lord Auckland, & at Government House. JDH hopes to join the Geographical Survey of Kamaon by naturalists, covering Sewalik hills to Tibet & Simla to Nepal. Thomson is in Yarkand studying geology & botanical geography, Cunningham in Cashmere [Kashmir] & Strachey in Chinese Tibet. Mentions Equus hermionus, an Auroch horn, his health & plan to go to Cherra Poonjee in Sylhet. Mar 8: en route to Bhagulpore down Ganges. Feb 16: will look for cirripedia for Darwin in Borneo, sends regards to Lyells & recommends Griffith's Journals.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 July [1848]
Source of text:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (India letters 1847–51: 94 JDH/1/10)
Summary:
Brian Hodgson reading CD’s Journal of researches with delight.
Forwarding breeding pamphlets.
JDH recommends P. S. Pallas on degeneration.
CD’s facts on sex in barnacles startling.
Hugh Falconer’s health.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project