Encloses letter from Ehrenberg [758] about Infusoria.
Intends to visit Kew.
Encloses letter from Ehrenberg [758] about Infusoria.
Intends to visit Kew.
Health and weather permitting, CD proposes to visit Kew.
Encloses letter from Ehrenberg [762], who wants information on deep-sea soundings from JDH’s voyage, and on isolated islands.
Encloses Ehrenberg letter, Galapagos seaweed, and specimens of Conferva.
H. Denny would like specimens of Antarctic Pediculi.
No summary available.
Encloses pamphlet from Ehrenberg who asks about deep-sea soundings from JDH’s voyage.
Acknowledges note and parcel for Ehrenberg.
Considers why different areas have different numbers of species. Gives an example opposing JDH’s view that paucity of species results from vicissitudes of climate. CD has concluded that species are most numerous in areas that have most often been divided, isolated from, and then reunited with, other areas. Cannot give detailed reasons but believes that "isolation is the chief concomitant or cause of the appearance of new forms".
Origin of Antarctic brash ice.
Further on case of Lycopodium: does JDH know any genera of plants whose species are variable in one continent but not in another? Discussion on variations between floras as regards species richness, and factors affecting geographical distribution. On species, CD expects "that I shall be able to show even to sound naturalists that there are two sides to the question of the immutability of species; – that facts can be viewed and grouped under the notion of allied species having descended from common stocks". Mentions books and papers for and against species mutability. CD believes past absurd ideas arose from no one’s having approached subject on side of variation under domestication.
Would like to see Clarke’s paper
and would welcome visit from JDH.
Would like JDH to visit. Regrets he will not be fit to visit JDH.
Instructions for JDH’s trip to Down.
Change in train times.
Thanks for botanico-geographical remarks. CD greatly appreciates JDH’s valuable generalisations.
Questions on JDH’s sketch comparing floras of Australia, New Zealand, and western S. America; wishes to know botanical relations between other southern islands. Botanico-geographical discussions and comments on books sent by JDH.
Sends specimens of a Tertiary sandstone from Tierra del Fuego in which there are leaves; CD thought they were beech. What is JDH’s opinion?
Asks whether JDH can make sense of a note on silicified wood.
Has read Vestiges [of creation (1844)]; "his geology strikes me as bad, & his zoology far worse".
Would like to see lists [of plants] from Society and Sandwich Islands.
Doubts JDH’s information regarding imagination of mother affecting offspring.
Would like copy of "Galapagos flora" when published ["Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 20 (1851): 163–233].
Will keep JDH’s Pacific island notes till his return.
Congratulates JDH and condoles with him on possible position at Edinburgh. Although CD will miss him bitterly, he encourages JDH to view it as a good opportunity.
Sorry to hear that Humboldt is failing.
No summary available.
Would like to borrow the pamphlet on variation [Frédéric Gérard, "De l’espèce dans les corps organisés" (1844), extract from Dictionnaire universel d’histoire naturelle, ed. C. D. d’Orbigny].
Glad to hear Humboldt’s views on migration. CD believes we cannot "put any limit to the possible and even probable migration of plants".
Wants good book on plant morphology.
Has received pamphlet from JDH [John Murray, Strictures on morphology (1845)].
Hopes JDH will enjoy Edinburgh.
Has just finished Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire on animal monsters [Anomalies de l’organisation chez l’homme et les animaux (1832–7)], "and a nasty curious subject it is".