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The quantity of life on planet at different periods depends on relations of desert, open ocean, &c. This probably on long average equal quantity, 2° on relation of heat & cold, therefore probably fewer now than formerly. The number of forms depends on the external relations (a fixed quantity) & on subdivision of stations & diversity, this perhaps on long average equal.

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The Cocos & Mar on the Mahé islands, on the higher parts & only on those & the islets separated at high water, not other islands, nor on any other part of world, no other plants peculiar to these isl^ds. Can not bear the least salt water.— Nuts prodigiously heavy (when trees of such nature far apart, must have travelled by each tree dying & mountain torrents, but to crawl up an hill, thereby deaths !!) looks like subsidence — on the islets

؟Brown

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161

examine structure of this bird & get account of habits.

My definition in wild of species has nothing to do with hybridity, is simply, an instinctive impulse to keep separate. which no doubt be overcome, but until it is these animals are distinct species.

If any one is staggered at feathers & scales passing into each other let him look at wings & orbits of Penguin & then he will cease to doubt:

Scales into Teeth in Bering Pike (Waterhouse)

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It would be curious to know whether variety could be transmitted more easily in those born without coitus, than with.
Magazine of Zool. & Bot. Vol. II p.— Dr Johnston¹ on Entomostraca Daphnia produce young, capable of producing young many times & lay two sorts of eggs. one remaining through winter. # Might be given as a hopeless difficulty, except as distinct creation.—
Generation may be viewed as condensor. Must (on my theory) = supported by foetal lower developed forms.— (N.B. Waterhouse says of affinity of many insects may be told by their larvae) but the acts of condensing must alter method of generation.— Heaven knows how.— This reaction takes place in every organ. Hence method of generation is very good general character in those animals where much change has been added, as it speaks to amount of change only & not kind : insects, vertebrata — plants. at first classification on generation might appear convention

¹ W. Baird, "The natural history of the British Entomostraca", Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. 2, 1837-8; on p. 406: "it is ascertained that one single copulation is sufficient not only to fecundate the mother for her life, but all the female descendants for several successive generations". The reference to Johnston is obscure.

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Erasmus¹ says he has seen old stallion tempted to cover old mare by being shown young one.—

Many African monkeys in Fernando Po — no new forms only species!

No salamanders (D'Orbigny Rapport p. 11) in S. America so highly developed in North.² —

Icthiology of S. America more peculiar than its ornithology p. 12 do. excepting salmons.

L'Institut Sorex from Mauritius³ p. 112 ; & paper on genus.

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¹ Erasmus Alvey Darwin, Darwin's elder brother.
² Alcide D'Orbigny, Voyage dans l' Amérique méridionale, …,…
³ L'Institut, avril 1838, p. 112, "Le Sorex sonneratii … deux exemplaires recueillis par les frères Verreaux dont l'un provient de Java et l'autre de l'île Maurice".

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Magazine of Zool. & Bot. Vol. I, p. 456 4 instances of hybrids between pheasant & Black fowl.— use as argument possibly some few hybrids in nature.—

p. 473 Webb & Berthelot¹ must be studied on Canary islands.² Endeavour to find out whether African forms (anyhow not Australian) on Peak. Did Creator make all new, yet forms like neighbouring continent.

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Chapter ten translated by Hooker.— my theory explains this but no other will. St Helena (& flora of Galapagos ?) same condition Keeling Isld. shows when proper dampness seeds arise quick enough. Vegetation of Peak altogether original³ owing to being oldest & having undergone change ? ? no near lofty country p. 475.

NB. This bears on fossils of Europe, those species which can migrate remaining constant in form, others altered much. these others will be plants & land animals & land shells — all in short. Extreme North = to peak of Tejde in relation to surrounding countries & present tropical count[ries]

¹ P. Barker Webb & S. Berthelot, Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. 1, 1837, p. 473 : "'Aspect général de la végétation des îies Canaries ' has been already well translated in Dr Hooker's Botanical Miscellany".
² P. Barker-Webb & S. Berthelot, Histoire naturelle des iles Canaries, Paris 1836.
³ Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. 1, 1837, "Reviews and critical analysis (Histoire naturelle des iles Canaries) ", p. 475 : "The Peak itself, the "Teyda ", the vegetation of these wild regions is found to be altogether original".