Darwin Correspondence Project

West Park Kew

Nov^r 29. 1844.

My dear Darwin

I am ashamed of not having written before, but have not been able to tell when I should be able to get down to Bromley, on account of Mr Bentham's coming here next week & Profr. Henslow the following. I find however that I have Saturday & Sunday 7^th & 8^th to spare: if perfectly convenient to Mrs Darwin & yourself I should much enjoy a run down & look at your habitat. Do you want any observations made in New Zeald: I have a friend now there, a fair naturalist & acute careful observer, who is going to the Middle & Southern Isld^s he is a Surgeon R.N. now acting Colonial Secretary to G^r Fitzroy.— We had a long letter from Capt Sulivan the other day from the Plate—

Brown (in Congo) says that the level of the sea in Tropics is not so rich in species as the temperate zone (or words to that effect), I never remarked that any one had said so before.

I find, even down to the lower orders, the plants of Ascension are totally different from those of S^t Helena. this is most remarkable as regards the Ferns.—of which there are 9 Ascension sp. only 2 (I think) of which are S^t Helena's.. Even the Jungermanniæ are different!— I expect no parallel to this is on record.

Ever your's most truly | Jos D Hooker