My dear Sir

I wish to thank you for your very great favor of Feb. 24^th and for speaking so kindly of my little work.¹ I am not blind to its shortcomings, and I trust you will remember it was designed only as a popular description of Equatorial America: details of Science were left to “Bulletins” and “Proceedings”.

If “The Andes and the Amazon” possesses any merit, it should be known that it was written under the inspiration of your own delightful “Voyage”.²

It is not necessary to say that your works are extensively read and thoroughly appreciated in America—

As to the Horse’s tooth from the Valley of Quito, I am of course very anxious to secure Professor Huxley’s opinion;³ yet I should be very sorry to add even a straw to the burden of a man so valuable to Science. I expect you to keep the specimen; and whenever you obtain a judgment upon it, should be glad to learn the decision. I am curious to know if it is distinct from the species found in the lowlands of eastern South America.

I wrote Mr. Hauxwell—the noted English Collector of thirty years residence on the Amazon and now hunting for me, to examine for fossil shells on the Marañon, and Ambiyacu.⁴ In his reply received a few days ago, he says: I have collected quite a lot of fossil shells for you about thirty miles below Pebas on the opposite side of the river—some large ones; and have been told they are found at Omaguas up the Maranon near Iquitos, and also up the Ambiyacu above Pebas.”⁵

So that my discovery is confirmed— I have not found a single Naturalist in America who holds Agassiz’s Theory of the Amazon Valley—⁶

With Sentiments of profound respect, I have the honor to be | Your obedient Servant | James Orton.

Charles Darwin Esq.