RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Sir W Parish found beds of Potomomya shells. CUL-DAR39.104. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2022. 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.
Parish, Sir Woodbine, 1796-1882 Diplomat, traveller and geologist. 1824 FRS. 1825-32 Consul General Buenos Aires. 1832 Sent back to London an almost complete skeleton of M. americanum. Lister, Darwin's fossils, 2018, p. 42. CD knew him in London. Red Notebook, p. 106. 1837 Kt Commander of the Guelphic Order of Hanover. CD letter to P (1839?) in A life of Sir Woodbine Parish, 1910, p. 412 (F2294). (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021)
[104]
Sir W. Parish found beds of Potomomya shells in strata on road to San Isidro in earthy deposit with small concretions, deposit just like earthy Tosca on highest part in that district.
In one collection of these shells there was the same Cytheræa ─ I found near the Arroyo de St. Juan
near Ensenado, besides beds of the shelly limestone-crystalline, & shells, at distance of arroyo del Gato, under 2 leagues from river; also specimen from Arroyo del Tristan of an earthy mass passing into true tosca apparently with Potomomya 1 1/4 leagues from river. ─ Does it not overlie it?? I can find no minute account of position of sea shells & excepting that they are found in side of banana down course of Plata.─
⸮ Do the Potomomya or Mactra ever form together? ─
[104v]
In some fine drawings of the Plata country by a frenchman, it is said near height of the country near the Bajada 25 [x] 3 [=] 75 metres.
Height of B. Ayres same author says 60 ft. others & more probably between 30 or 40.─
Mr Parish astuary shells 100 miles from the water.─ sand white beneath Tosca of B. Ayres at depth of 175 ft? ─
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022