188 EVOLUTION [CHAP. Ill 



Letter 127 see and have had copied. The increase is more rapid than I 

 anticipated, but it seems rather conjectural ; I had hoped 

 that in so interesting a case some exact record had been kept. 

 The number of births, or of calves reared till they followed 

 their mothers, would perhaps have been the best datum. 

 From Mr. Hardy's letter I infer that ten must be annually born 

 to make up the deaths from various causes. In Paraguay, 

 Azara states that in a herd of 4,000, from 1,000 to 1,300 are 

 reared ; but then, though they do not kill calves, but castrate 

 the young bulls, no doubt the oxen would be killed earlier 

 than the cows, so that the herd would contain probably more 

 of the female sex than the herd at Chillingham. There is not 

 apparently any record whether more young bulls are killed 

 than cows. I am surprised that Lord Tankerville does not 

 have an exact record kept of deaths and sexes and births : 

 after a dozen years it would be an interesting statistical record 

 to the naturalist and agriculturalist. 



Letter 128 To J. D. Hooker. 



The death of Professor Henslow (who was Sir J. D. Hooker's 

 father-in-law) occurred on May i6th, 1861. 



Down, May 24th [1861]. 



Thanks for your two notes. I am glad that the burial 

 is over, and sincerely sympathise and can most fully under- 

 stand your feelings at your loss. 



I grieve to think how little I saw of Henslow for many 

 years. With respect to a biography of Henslow, I cannot help 

 feeling rather doubtful, on the principle that a biography 

 could not do him justice. His letters were generally written 

 in a hurry, and I fear he did not keep any journal or diary. 

 If there were any vivid materials to describe his life as 

 parish priest, and manner of managing the poor, it would be 

 very good. 



I am never very sanguine on literary projects. I cannot 

 help fearing his Life might turn out flat. There can hardly 

 be marked incidents to describe. I sincerely hope that I 

 take a wrong and gloomy view, but I cannot help fearing I 

 would rather see no Life than one that would interest very few. 

 It will be a pleasure and duty in me to consider what I can 

 recollect ; but at present I can think of scarcely anything. 

 The equability and perfection of Henslow's whole character, 



