To J. S. Dismorr¹   6 May [1851]

Dear Sir

I am very much obliged to you for informing me of your interesting discovery of fossil footsteps near Port Philip in Australia— The first observed in the Southern hemisphere & the more interesting from the probability of the Footsteps being palaeozoic—² Circumstance will prevent my coming to town for a considerable time otherwise I should have much liked to have seen your specimens. Professor Owen of the R College of Surgeons, Lincoln’s Inn Fields the highest authority in the world on Zoology has lately been attending to the subject³ & I feel sure would be very glad to examine the footsteps if you would take the trouble to send or take your specimens there & this note would serve as an introduction to him & I am sure he would be pleased to give you all the information in his power on your interesting specimens Mr Jukes of the Museum of Economic Geology is the most likely man to know whatever little is known of the geology of Port Philip—⁴ I am extremely glad to hear that you will yourself on your return attend to the formation & I hope that you will be enabled to send home some fossil shells from some overlying bed—

Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | C Darwin J S Disnurr Esq