My dear Hooker

I have almost finished your Arctic paper, & I must tell you how I admire it.² The subject treated, as you have treated it, is really magnificent. Good Heavens what labour it must have cost you! And what a grand prospect there is for the future.— I need not say how much pleased I am at your notice of my work;³ for you know that I regard your opinion more than that of all others. Such papers are the real engine to compel people to reflect on modification of species: anyone with an enquiring mind could hardly fail to wish to consider the whole subject after reading your paper.— By Jove you will be driven,, nolens volens, to a cooled globe—⁴ think of your own case of Abyssinia & Fernando Po, & S. Africa⁵ & of your Lebanon case;⁶ grant that there are high lands to favour migration, but surely the lowlands must have been somewhat cooled.— I hope I blunder but I fear there is serious erratum at p. 258, compare whole table of “233 Arctic Asiatic species” with p. 264:⁷ the “O” to “Tropical Mountains of Asia” gave me a shudder: I hope I am wrong; but if it be an erratum, ought it not to be corrected in next vol. of Transactions.?

What a splendid new & original evidence & case is that of Greenland: I cannot see how, even by granting bridges of continuous land one can understand the existing Flora. I should think from state of Scotland & America & from isothermals, that during the coldest part of Glacial period, Greenland must have been quite depopulated. Like a dog to his vomit, I cannot help going back & leaning to accidental means of transport by ice & currents.⁸ How curious also is the case of Iceland. What a splendid paper you have made of the subject. When we meet I must ask how much you attribute richness of Flora of Lapland to mere climate: it seems to me very marvellous that this point should have been a sort of focus of radiation: if, however, it is unnaturally rich, ie contains more species that it ought to do for its latitude, in comparison with the other arctic regions, would it not thus falsely seem to a focus of radiation? But I shall hereafter have to go over & over again your paper; at present I am quite muddy on subject. How very odd on any view, the relation of Greenland to the mountains of E. N. America; this looks as if there had been wholesale extinction in E. N. America.— But I must not run on.— By the way I find Link in 1820 speculated on relation of Alpine & Arctic plants being due to former colder climate, which he attributed to higher mountains cutting off the warm southern winds.⁹

I enclose list of specimens much wanted for experiment. Aid me, if you can.—¹⁰ Do not send off in a frost; otherwise soon, or transplanting may check seeding.—

I am much troubled in mind about Masdevallia fenestrata;¹¹ I sh^d. like to make it out: is it a large plant or very precious? if not, could you lend me the specimen whenever this next summer it is near flowering?—

When at Lubbock’s¹² you said you sh^d. ask Bentham about my reading some extracts to Linn. Soc: about the odd sexual orchids.— I sh^d. doubt the propriety, & am quite indifferent on subject.— I mention it only because if wished I must at once get the M.S. from printers & have a few pages copied & get a few diagrams made. If I do not hear I will understand it is not desired.¹³

Ever my dear Hooker | Yours most truly | C. Darwin