4 o6 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Miiller, Leuckart, Claparede, Alex. Braun, Schleiden, etc. So it is, 

 I hear, with the younger Frenchmen. 



To C. V. Eilet. 



Down, June 1st [1871]. 



I received some little time ago your report on noxious insects, and 

 have now read the whole with the greatest interest. There are a vast 

 number of facts and generalisations of value to me, and I am struck 

 with admiration at your powers of observation. 



The discussion on mimetic insects seems to me particularly good 

 and original. Pray accept my cordial thanks for the instruction and 

 interest which I have received. 



What a loss to Natural Science our poor mutual friend Walsh has 

 been; it is a loss ever to be deplored. . . . 



Your country is far ahead of ours in some respects; our Parliament 

 would think any man mad who should propose to appoint a State 

 Entomologist. 



To E. S. Morse. 



Down, Oct. 21st, 1879. 



Although you are so kind as to tell me not to write, I must just 

 thank you for the proofs of your paper,* which has interested me 

 greatly. The increase in the number of ridges in the three species of 

 Area seems to be a very noteworthy fact, as does the increase of size 

 in so many, yet not all, the species. What a constant state of fluctua- 

 tion the whole organic world seems to be in ! It is interesting to hear 

 that everywhere the first change apparently is in the proportional num- 

 bers of the species. I was much struck with the fact in the upraised 

 shells of Coquimbo, in Chili, as mentioned in my Geological Observa- 

 tions on South America. 



Of all the wonders in the world, the progress of Japan, in which 

 you have been aiding, seems to me about the most wonderful. 



To A. Agassiz. 



Down, May 5th, 1881. 



It was very good of you to write to me from Tortugas, as I always 

 feel much interested in hearing what you are about, and in reading 

 your many discoveries. It is a surprising fact that the peninsula of 

 Florida should have remained at the same level for the immense 

 period requisite for the accumulation of so vast a pile of debris. 



You will have seen Mr. Murray's views on the formation of atolls 

 and barrier reefs. Before publishing my book, I thought long over 

 the same view, but only as far as ordinary marine organisms are con- 

 cerned, for at that time little was known of the multitude of minute 



* ' The Shell Mounds of Omori.' 



