1858.] THE WRITING OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' 129 



Mrs. Hooker for her very kind little note, and pray say how 

 truly obliged I am, and in truth ashamed to think that she 

 should have had the trouble of copying my ugly MS. It was 

 extraordinarily kind in her. Farewell, my dear kind friend. 



Yours affectionately, 



C. DARWIN 



P.S. I have had some fun here in watching a slave-making 

 ant ; for I" could not help rather doubting the wonderful 

 stones, but I have now seen a defeated marauding party, 

 and I have seen a migration from one nest to another of the 

 slave-makers, carrying their slaves (who are house, and not 

 field niggers) in their mouths ! 



I am inclined to think that it is a true generalisation that, 

 when honey is secreted at one point of the circle of the corolla, 

 if the pistil bends, it always bends into the line of the gangway 

 to the honey. The Larkspur is a good instance, in contrast 

 to Columbine, if you think of it, just attend to this little 

 point. 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



King's Head Hotel, Sandown, Isle of Wight. 



July 1 8th [1858]. 



. . We are established here for ten days, and then go on 

 to Shanklin, which seems more amusing to one, like myself, 

 who cannot walk. We hope much that the sea may do H. 

 and L. good. And if it does, our expedition will answer, but 

 not otherwise. 



I have never half thanked you for all the extraordinary 

 trouble and kindness you showed me about Wallace's affair. 

 Hooker told me what was done at the Linnean Society, and I 

 am far more than satisfied, and I do not think that Wallace can 

 think my conduct unfair in allowing you and Hooker to do 

 whatever you thought fair. I certainly was a little annoyed 

 to lose all priority, but had resigned myself to my fate. I am 



VOL. II. K 



