The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1855.12. Lyell says Madeira an isld at Miocene Period. CUL-DAR205.3.154. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 1.2022. 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-DAR205.3 contains notes on distribution of animals.

The brown crayon number '19' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Island endemism: animals.

[154]

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Dec. / 55 /

Lyell says Madeira an isld at Miocene Period. The Azores separated by much deeper water: but I remember that Hooker remarked that these islds more united with each other than with Mainland. Again Madeira & P. Santo on a 1000 fathom Bank, & yet very many forms distinct: The forms which the Canaries & Madeira have in common belong to different genera to those of Europe, I think;

(over

[154v]

If the islds had all been united by land, Madeira P. Santo united at infinitely more recent period, hence wd have had very much in common - I see Lyell looks to creation subsequent to separation. I shd say some very ancient, slight union & subsequent immigration.

What the islds have in common are not same species, but same genera?

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