LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



called into requisition in the case, in a manner so parallel 

 that there is no drawing any but a purely arbitrary dis- 

 tinction between the one and the other. 



" I conceive one as effective as the other as regards 

 the leading on and fixing variation. When I say now 

 again that the expression ' fitted by its regional develop- 

 ment to the region ' conveys no clear meaning to me, I 

 am only telling you, as I did before, my way of looking 

 at things, not finding fault with yours. 



" By the way : ' variation (inherent) in particular direc- 

 tions ' is your idea and mine, but is very anti-Darwin." 



ASA GRAY TO DANA 



' 

 " CAMBRIDGE, May 20, 1886. 



" I find little time to read anything now out of my 

 regular trodden course. But having to lie by a few 

 hours, I took up your memoir of dear Guyot, and have 

 read it with much gratification. You have very much in 

 common with Guyot in thought and ways of viewing, 

 and so you are just the person to pay this well-deserved 

 tribute. For myself, I begin at length to be old to find 

 that I cannot do much except just when in the best 

 physical condition. Just then I forget my age. But 

 this expelling of nature (the inevitable) with a fork, 

 does not keep it off for long." * 



II 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH CHARLES DARWIN 



The names of Darwin and Dana will always be asso- 

 ciated, partly because they had like opportunities in the 

 exploration of the Pacific, partly because their studies in- 

 cluded the broad aspects of geology and zoology, and 

 perhaps still more because they were independent inves- 

 tigators of the origin and growth of coral islands. Each 

 fitted himself for generalizations by careful and prolonged 

 studies, the one of the barnacles, and the other of the 

 Crustacea and zoophytes. 



* Dr. Gray died January 30, 1888. 

 3O2 



