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465 Darwin, Charles

Fine A. L. s.

6 pp., 8vo, Down near Bromley, Kent, 26 January [c. 1843], entirely concerning his scientific work and referring in particular to his "Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs" ... I have very little doubt that hereafter, the existence of former wide tracts of land, since buried in the ocean of subsidence, will turn out the chief means of the migrations & passage of animals, plants & man, from one part of the world to another. How rapidly do facts in geology accumulate, showing that most of the sedimentary strata of Europe & N. America. have during their accumulation (as shown by upright buried trees, footsteps once on the surface, presence of beings which cannot live in deep water &c. &c.) slowly subsided...