My dear Lyell

Emma² has got a bad-headach, so I write direct to you— M^r. Weale sent to me from Natal a small packet of dry locust-dung, under $\frac{1}{2}$ oz, with the statement that it is believed that they introduce new plants into a district. This statement, however, must be very doubtful. From this packet, 7 (seven) plants have germinated, belonging to at least two kinds of grasses. There is no error, for I dissected some of the seeds out of the middle of the pellets.³ It deserves notice that Locusts are sometimes blown far out to sea; I caught one 370 miles from Africa, & I have heard of much greater differences.

You might like to hear the following case as it relates to a migratory bird, belonging to the most wandering of all orders, viz. the Woodcock. The tarsus was firmly coated with mud weighing when dry nine grains, & from this the Juncus bufonius or Toad-rush germinated.⁴ By the way the Locust case verifies what I said in the ‘Origin’ that many possible means of distribution would be hereafter discovered.⁵ I quite agree about the extreme difficulty of the distrib: of land Mollusca. You will have seen in the last edit: of ‘Origin’ that my observations on the effect of sea water have been confirmed.⁶ I still suspect that the legs of birds which roost on the ground may be an efficient means; but I was interrupted when going to make trials on this subject & have never resumed it.⁷

We shall be in London in the middle or latter part of Nov^r. when I shall much enjoy seeing you. Emma sends her love & many thanks for Lady Lyell’s note.⁸

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

P.S. My brother is at home now— You can of course, use anything in this note.⁹