VET. 45-46.] EOCENE PLANTS. 107 



The long and short is that De la Harpe's conclusions do really 

 indicate a very tropical flora. The one thing that De la Harpe 

 and I agree in is that the leaves do belong to the very commonest 

 forms in the vegetable kingdom of dicot. plants. Believe me, ever 

 most truly yours, Jos. D. HOOKER. 



Besides " The Ground beneath Us," only one paper 

 was contributed in 1857, namely, that " On some 

 Fossiliferous Iron Sandstone occurring in the North 

 Downs," and this under a slightly modified title was 

 published during the following year. 



J. Prestwich to Dr [Sir] Joseph D. Hooker. 



CANTERBURY, Janry. 30/58. 



DEAR DR HOOKER, I am much obliged by your criticisms on 

 my observations about the Heading leaves. You have, I suppose, 

 seen Dr De la Harpe's paper recently published in the Bulln. 

 Soc. Vaudoise. I feel that further evidence is necessary, and 

 must try if the Heading cutting is still accessible. They were at 

 work in the bed in a side cutting last spring. Could you pos- 

 sibly manage to run down some warm spring day, for the work is 

 too sedentary for this weather ? I should much like to go down 

 with you. The leaves are most abundant, and you might see 

 much that might escape me. First of all, however, I should 

 very much like to look into the evidence myself to the small 

 extent that I may venture by the inspection of the forms of 

 leaves under your guidance. My sister also wants to look at 

 some forms of ferns and a palm (?) that can be associated for 

 cultivation in our smoky atmosphere not as a botanist, but for 

 the pleasantness of green leaves and beauty of form. We pur- 

 pose, then, visiting Kew Gardens some Saturday (now a compara- 

 tively leisure day with me), and if you could kindly spare me an 

 hour or two to put me in the way of looking right and at the 

 right things, I shall feel particularly obliged. I shall be in town 

 again after Tuesday, and am yours most truly, 



Jos. PRESTWICH. 



The following letter from the veteran geologist, Mr 



