The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Ocean Islands may be either remnants of continent or points. CUL-DAR205.2.101. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 5.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.2 contains notes on means of distribution.

The brown crayon number '18' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Migration.

[101]

Ocean Islands may be either remnants of continents, or points in process of formation: I think latter; from there being with rarest exceptions (Seychelles & N. Zealand) volcanic often with active volcanos (leaving coral out of question), & volcanic lands are generally rising; as may be tested by upraised organic remains (& nature of coral reefs)— nature of soundings so excessively abrupt – but chief fact to go on is fact of all composed of volcanic rocks, why so take any continent & look at nature of Peaks. Continents remain constant.—

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)