Dear Darwin

You mention (Journals) no land birds, except introduced, upon S^t Helena—¹ Beatson (Introd. XVII) mentions one in “considerable numbers” resembles Sand Lark—is called “Wire bird” has long greenish legs like wires, runs fast, eyes large, bill moderately long, is rather shy, does not possess much powers of flight.—² What was it? I have written to ask Sclater also about Birds of Madeira & Azores.³

It is a very curious thing, that Azores does not contain the (non European) American genus Clethra, that is found in Madeira & Canaries; & that the Azores contain no trace of American element, (beyond what is common to Madeira), except a species of Sanicula, a genus with hooked bristles to the small seeds— The European Sanicula roams from Norway to Madeira, Canaries, Cape Verds, Cameroons, Cape Good Hope: & from Britain to Japan, & also is I think in N. America; but does not occur in Azores, where it is replaced by one that is of a decidedly American type.⁴

This tells heavily against the doctrine that joins Atlantis to America, & is much against your transoceanic migration—for considering how near Azores are to America & in the influence of the Gulf stream & prevalent winds it certainly appears marvellous. Not only are the Azores in a current that sweeps the coast of U. States, but it is in the S.W. winds, & in the eye of the S.W. hurricanes!.

I suppose you will answer that the European forms are prepotent—but this is riding prepotency to death

R. T. Lowe has written me a capital letter on the Madeiran, Canaries & Cape Verd Floras.⁵

I misled you if I gave you to understand that Wollaston’s catalogue said anything about rare plants—⁶

I am worked & worried to death with this Lecture: & curse myself as a soft headed & hearted imbecile—to have accepted it.⁷

Ever Yrs | J D Hooker