502 THE WRITING OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859, 



ble for measurements and examination. Their edges should 

 be well protected against abrasion. 



Every one whom I have seen has thought your paper very 

 well written and interesting. It puts my extracts (written in 

 1839, now just twenty years ago !), which I must say in apol- 

 ogy were never for an instant intended for publication, into 

 the shade. 



You ask about Lyell's frame of mind. I think he is some- 

 what staggered, but does not give in, and speaks with horror, 

 often to me, of what a thing it would be, and what a job it 

 would be for the next edition of * The Principles,' if he were 

 "/^verted." But he is most candid and honest, and I think 

 will end by being /^verted. Dr. Hooker has become almost 

 as heterodox as you or I, and I look at Hooker as by far the 

 most capable judge in Europe. 



Most cordially do I wish you health and entire success in 

 all your pursuits, and, God knows, if admirable zeal and 

 energy deserve success, most amply do you deserve it. I look 

 at my own .career as nearly run out. If I can publish my 

 Abstract and perhaps my greater work on the same subject, 

 I shall look at my course as done. 



Believe me, my dear sir, yours very sincerely, 



C. DARWIN. 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, March 2nd [1859]. 



MY DEAR HOOKER, Here is an odd, though very little, 

 fact. I think it would be hardly possible to name a bird 

 which apparently could have less to do with distribution than 

 a Petrel. Sir W. Milner, at St. Kilda, cut open some young 

 nestling Petrels, and he found large, curious nuts in their 

 crops ; I suspect picked up by parent birds from the Gulf 

 stream. He seems to value these nuts excessively. I have 

 asked him (but I doubt whether he will) to send a nut to Sir 

 William Hooker (I gave this address for grandeur sake) 

 to see if any of you can name it and its native country. Will 



