1 859.] GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 147 



at my own career as nearly run out. If I can publish my 

 Abstract and perhaps my greater work on the same subject, 

 I shall look at my course as done. 



Believe me, my dear sir, yours very sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, March 2nd [1859]. 



MY DEAR HOOKER, Here is an odd, though very little, 

 fact. I think it would be hardly possible to name a bird 

 which apparently could have less to do with distribution than 

 a Petrel. Sir W. Milner, at St. Kilda, cut open some young 

 nestling Petrels, and he found large, curious nuts in their crops ; 

 I suspect picked up by parent birds from the Gulf stream. 

 He seems to value these nuts excessively. I have asked him 

 (but I doubt whether he will) to send a nut to Sir William 

 Hooker (I gave this address for grandeur's sake) to see if any 

 of you can name it and its native country. Will you please 

 mention this to Sir William Hooker, and if the nut does ar- 

 rive, will you oblige me by returning it to " Sir W. 

 Milner, Bart, Nunappleton, Tadcaster," in a registered 

 letter, and I will repay you postage. Enclose slip of paper 

 with the name and country if you can, and let me hereafter 

 know. Forgive me asking you to take this much trouble ; for 

 it is a funny little fact after my own heart. 



Now for another subject. I have finished my Abstract of 

 the chapter on Geographical Distribution, as bearing on my 

 subject. I should like you much to read it ; but I say this, 

 believing that you will not do so, if, as I believe to be the 

 case, you are extra busy. On my honour, I shall not be 

 mortified, and I earnestly beg you not to do it, if it will 

 bother you. I want it, because I here feel especially unsafe, 

 and errors may have crept in. Also, I should much like to 

 know what parts you will most veliemently object to. I know 



L 2 



