1 868.] AGASSIZ. 99 



that you will have plenty of time to publish your views first, 

 which will be a great advantage to me. Of all the curious 

 facts which you mention in your letter, I think that of the 

 strong inheritance of the scalp-muscles has interested me 

 most I presume that you would not object to my giving 

 this very curious case on your authority. As I believe all 

 anatomists look at the scalp-muscles as a remnant of the 

 Panniculus carnosus which is common to all the lower 

 quadrupeds, I should look at the unusual development and 

 inheritance of these muscles as probably a case of reversion. 

 Your observation on so many remarkable men in noble 

 families having been illegitimate is extremely curious ; and 

 should I ever meet any one capable of writing an essay on 

 this subject I will mention your remarks as a good sugges- 

 tion. Dr. Hooker has several times remarked to me that 

 morals and politics would be very interesting if discussed like 

 any branch of natural history, and this is nearly to the same 

 effect with your remarks. . . . 



C. Darwin to L. Agassis. 



Down, August 19, 1868. 



DEAR SIR, I thank you cordially for your very kind 

 letter. I certainly thought that you had formed so low an 

 opinion of my scientific work that it might have appeared 

 indelicate in me to have asked for information from you, but 

 it never occurred to me that my letter would have been 

 shown to you. I have never for a moment doubted your 

 kindness and generosity, and I hope you will not think it 

 presumption in me to say, that when we met, many years 

 ago, at the British Association at Southampton, I felt for you 

 the warmest admiration. 



Your information on the Amazonian fishes has interested 

 me extremely, and tells me exactly what I wanted to know, 

 I was aware, through notes given me by Dr. Gunther, that 



H 2 



