WCP2532

[1]

D^r Sir

In reading your most interesting book on Island Life¹I am tempted to offer a few remarks, which if not very valuable, will I trust be not unacceptable as contribution towards personally observed facts in Natural Hist[ory].

Among the Jays I would ask why is it that the [illeg.] or evidence Jay common in the Beasdale[?] and Ball[?] Atlas[?] districts of Jordan[?] — sh[oul]d be confined to that county & parts of Russia[?]. While they are not found in England or Germany or Switzerland as residents, in districts equally[?] well suited to their habits

2^nd The approximation[?] of the British grouse to the Tatiao[?] soliceties[?] is often complete & I have shot them with not only white feathers in [2] quite a great abundance on the legs & [illeg] as the latter but also with the five[?] great feathers of the [illeg.] which never changes in the [illeg.] grouse also thus permanently attested[?]. On the other hand. I have found the solicitude in low wooded situations still remaining[?] in summer & always during the winter months.

The distinction seems therefore not only slight but easily reversible. 1. not yet even permanent from which I learn from to draw the scientific conclusions.

"With[?] all the other grouse Dets. grouse [3 words illeg.] chickens — 2. Ptarmigans. 12[?] the difference is far greater & permanent. Still they [3] will breed together occasionally to produce highbreds.

I was surprised to find that you regard the [illeg.] status[?] of error as only existing in Gt. Britain — I never could recognise any true distinction between the trout of Loch Awe & other Long Scotch Lakes at low levels and those of the Cliosen[?] & Rudd[?] fisch of Constance² and Geneva Majjiore³ & Garda⁴ and have always regarded them as [illeg.] properly defined its varying greatly in size — colour — & social-peculiar habits in each — locality —

"Above 2000 ft in Norway and in the highest central Lakes of Scotland — The Lake Trout is that nearly [4] equal in size to the [illeg] totally distinct in character — living mostly in shallow water — on the Eplensee[?] & their larvae.

"[illeg.] they sh[oul]^d [illeg word underlined] appear in the large Lakes at lower levels, it is laid to conjecture for the streams passing this [illeg.] usually flow into the same basin.

"Lastly in the causes producing glacial climates has the first entrance of the Arctic current into the Baltic by the gulf of Finland been duly considered in connection with the observed fact that vast lateral ridges of sea borne sand and detritus left by the Oceanic Glacier in Icebergs are also[?] [5] lying upon the crest of the [illeg.] 3500 ft high near Dorida[?] in Ostedal.[?]

I am not aware that these remarkable deposits have been scientifically reported on — or what experience may be safely drawn from it, but if the submersion of East Norway & Sweden was of such a character, the amount of icy water flowing in such a channel must have been very considerable, and as it would have covered all the low country up to the foot of the Alps, the resulting climate must have been of considerable severity. I only submit [6] these remarks in a spirit of free[?] investigation & observation, to your far more trained judg[men]t and I can only say that any correction or explanation you may think it worth while to give will be gratefully accepted by:—

Y[ou]rs v[er]y faithfully | F. S. Corrance [signature]

Parham Hall

Wickham M[ar]^k[e]t

Suffolk

N.B Being at present on my way to Spain and Tangiers — I send county address—

Jan 14th