1868.1 AGASSIZ. 2 8l 



C. Darwin to L. Agasstz. 



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 

 many fishes differed sexually in colour and other characters, 

 but I was particularly anxious to learn how far this was the 

 case with those fishes in which the male, differently from 

 what occurs with most birds, takes the largest share in 

 the care of the ova and young. Your letter has not only 

 interested me much, but has greatly gratified me in other 

 respects, and I return you my sincere thanks for your kind- 

 ness. Pray believe me, my dear Sir, 



Yours very faithfully, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, Sunday, August 23 [1868]. 



MY DEAR OLD FRIEND, I have received your note. I 

 can hardly say how pleased I have been at the success of 

 your address,* and of the whole meeting. I have seen the 

 Times, Telegraph, Spectator, and Athenceum, and have heard 



* Sir Joseph Hooker was President of the British Association at th. 

 Norwich Meeting in 1868. 



55 



