To John Stevens Henslow 3 November 18381
Saturday, 3 Novr 1838
My dear Henslow
I am preparing an appendix to my Journal, in which I mean to add a few remarks on some of the subjects, which I have there discussed.—2 You may recollect how often I have talked over the marvellous fact of the species of birds being different, in those different islands of the Galapagos.—3 Lately I have gained some curious facts, bearing on the same points, regarding the lizards & tortoises of those same islands;4 & now I want to know whether you can tell me anything about the plants.— Pray understand, I do not want you to take any trouble in giving me names &c &c.— all I want is to know whether in casting your eye over my plants, how many cases (for you told me of some one or two) there are of near species, of the same genus,;—one species coming from one island, & the other from a second island.—5
If there are any number of these cases you can mention to what natural families they belong. (or the genera if you happen to know them).— Also how near the species are;—whether they require comparison to be distinguished; or whether, merely in any natural classification, they would follow one after another. I have already given you trouble enough about this same Galap: Arch: but all I now want is for you to answer me, as far as your present knowledge goes; & in doing this, I apprehend it will not take up more than a hour, & it will (if such be the fact with the plants) support my case of the birds & Tortoises in a glorious manner.— 6
Many thanks for your letter, which I received some time.—7 Leonard Jenyns8 will see about the Savings Bank.—
Will you have the kindness to write pretty soon, as I believe (but am not sure) I shall go to press with the appendix immediately,—
Ever yours most truly | Chas. Darwin
I have written to you on a torn piece of Paper without perceiv⟨ing⟩ it.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Porter, Duncan M. 1987. Darwin’s notes on Beagle plants. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Historical Series 14: 145–233.
Summary
Relates plan for an appendix to his Journal of researches which will include facts of species of birds’ being different in different islands of the Galápagos and also of the lizards and tortoises on the islands. Asks JSH whether he can supply parallels in the plant life.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-429A
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John Stevens Henslow
- Source of text
- Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology MSS 2031 A. Gift of H. W. Lende Jr)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 429A,” accessed on 1 September 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-429A.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 13 (Supplement)