1856.] BOTANICAL GEOGRAPHY. 85 



No subject gives me so much trouble and doubt and diffi- 

 culty as the means of dispersal of the same species of terrestrial 

 productions on the oceanic islands. Land mollusca drive me 

 mad, and I cannot anyhow get their eggs to experimentise their 

 power of floating and resistance to the injurious action of 

 salt water. I will not apologise for writing so much about 

 my own doings, as I believe you will like to hear. Do some- 

 time, I beg you, let me hear how you get on in health ; and 

 if so inclined, let me have some words on call-ducks. 

 My dear Fox, yours affectionately, 



CH. DARWIN. 



[With regard to his book he wrote (Nov. loth) to Sir 

 Charles Lyell : 



" I am working very steadily at my big book ; I have 

 found it quite impossible to publish any preliminary essay or 

 sketch ; but am doing my work as completely as my present 

 materials allow without waiting to perfect them. And this 

 much acceleration I owe to you."] 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, Sunday [Oct. 1856]. 



MY DEAR HOOKER, The seeds are come all safe, many 

 thanks for them. I was very sorry to run away so soon and 

 miss any part of my most pleasant evening ; and I ran away 

 like a Goth and Vandal without wishing Mrs. Hooker good- 

 bye ; but I was only just in time, as I got on the platform 

 the train had arrived. 



I was particularly glad of our discussion after dinner ; 

 fighting a battle with you always clears my mind wonder- 

 fully. I groan to hear that A. Gray agrees with you about 

 the condition of Botanical Geography. All I know is that 

 if you had had to search for light in Zoological Geography 

 you would by contrast, respect your own subject a vast deal 



