212 MISCELLANEA (continued). [1876. 



His prophecy proved to be a true one with regard to any 

 continuation of any general work in the direction of Evolu- 

 tion, but his estimate of powers which could afterwards prove 

 capable of grappling with the 'Movements of Plants,' and 

 with the work on ' Earthworms,' was certainly a low one. 



The year 1876, with which the present chapter begins, 

 brought with it a revival of geological work. He had been 

 astonished, as I hear from Professor Judd, and as appears 

 in his letters, to learn that his books on ' Volcanic Islands,' 

 1844, and on 'South America,' 1846, were still consulted 

 by geologists, and it was a surprise to him that new editions 

 should be required. Both these works were originally 

 published by Messrs. Smith and Elder, and the new edition 

 of 1876 was also brought out by them. This appeared in 

 one volume with the title ' Geological Observations on the 

 Volcanic Islands, and Parts of South America visited during 

 the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle.' He has explained in the 

 preface his reasons for leaving untouched the text of the 

 original editions : " They relate to parts of the world which 

 have been so rarely visited by men of science, that I am not 

 aware that much could be corrected or added from observa- 

 tions subsequently made. Owing to the great progress which 

 Geology has made within recent times, my views on some 

 few points may be somewhat antiquated ; but I have thought 

 it best to leave them as they originally appeared." 



It may have been the revival of geological speculation, 

 due to the revision of his early books, that led to his re- 

 cording the observations of which some account is given in the 

 following letter. Part of it has been published in Professor ' 

 James Geikie's ' Prehistoric Europe,' chaps, vii. and ix.,* a fe\A 

 verbal alterations having been made at my father's request 11 

 the passages quoted. Mr. Geikie lately wrote to me : " The 



* My father's suggestion is also America,' given at Edinburgh, Nov 

 noticed in Prof. Geikie's address on 20, 1884. 

 the ' Ice Age in Europe and North 



