18431882] FLORA ANTARCTICA 407 



Now for some miscellaneous remarks on your letter : Letter 315 

 thanks for the offer to let me see specimens of boulders 

 from Cockburn Island ; but I care only for boulders, as an 

 indication of former climate : perhaps Ross will give some 

 information. . . . 



Watson's paper on the Azores l has surprised me much ; 

 do you not think it odd, the fewness of peculiar species, and 

 their rarity on the alpine heights ? I wish he had tabulated 

 his results ; could you not suggest to him to draw up a paper 

 of such results, comparing these Islands with Madeira ? surely 

 does not Madeira abound with peculiar forms ? 



A discussion on the relations of the floras, especially the 

 alpine ones, of Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands, would 

 be, I should think, of general interest. How curious, the 

 several doubtful species, which are referred to by Watson, at 

 the end of his paper ; just as happens with birds at the 

 Galapagos. . . . Any time that you can put me in the way 

 of reading about alpine floras, I shall feel it as the greatest 

 kindness. I grieve there is no better authority for Bourbon, 

 than that stupid Bory : I presume his remark that plants, on 

 isolated volcanic islands are polymorphous (i.e., I suppose, 

 variable?) is quite gratuitous. Farewell, my dear Hooker. 

 This letter is infamously unclear, and I fear can be of no use, 

 except giving you the impression of a botanical ignoramus. 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter 316 



Down, March iQth [1845]. 



... I was very glad to hear Humboldt's views on migrations 

 and double creations. It is very presumptuous, but I feel 

 sure that though one cannot prove extensive migration, the 

 leading considerations, proper to the subject, are omitted, 

 and I will venture to say even by Humboldt. I should like 

 some time to put the case, like a lawyer, for your considera- 

 tion, in the point of view under which, I think, it ought 

 to be viewed. The conclusion which I come to is, that we 

 cannot pretend, with our present knowledge, to put any 

 limit to the possible, and even probable, migration of plants. 

 If you can show that many of the Fuegian plants, common 

 to Europe, are found in intermediate points, it will be a 



1 H. C. Watson, London Journal of Botany, 1843-44. 



