"very closely allied to a species found
in South Africa, but presenting certain differences which entitle it to
the rank of a peculiar species" (Wallace, "Island Life," page 294).
In the earlier editions of the "Origin" (e.g. Edition III., page 422)
Darwin wrote that "Madeira does not possess one peculiar bird."
In Edition IV., 1866, page 465, the mistake was put right.) "in
considerable numbers," resembles sand-lark--is called "wire bird," has
long greenish legs like wires, runs fast, eyes large, bill moderately
long, is rather shy, does not possess much powers of flight. What was
it? I have written to ask Sclater, also about birds of Madeira and
Azores. It is a very curious thing that the Azores do not contain the
(non-European) American genus Clethra, that is found in Madeira and
Canaries, and that the Azores contain no trace of American element
(beyond what is common to Madeira), except a species of Sanicula, a
genus with hooked bristles to the small seed-vessels. The European
Sanicula roams from Norway to Madeira, Canaries, Cape Verde, Cameroons,
Cape of Good Hope, and from Britain to Japan, and also is, I think, in
N. America; but does not occur in the Azores, where it is replaced by
one that is of a decidedly American type.

This tells heavily against the doctrine that joins Atlantis to America,
and is much against your trans-oceanic migration--for considering how
near the Azores are to America, and in the influence of the Gulf-stream
and prevalent winds, it certainly appears marvellous. Not only are the
Azores in a current that sweeps the coast of U. States, but they are in
the S.W. winds, and in the eye of the S.W. hurricanes!

I suppose you will answer that the European forms are prepotent, but
this is riding prepotency to death.

R.T. Lowe has written me a capital letter on the Madeiran, Canarian, and
Cape Verde floras.

I misled you if I gave you to understand that Wollaston's Catalogue said
anything about rare plants. I am worked and worried to death with this
lecture: and curse myself as a soft headed and hearted imbecile to have
accepted it.

LETTER 368. J.D. HOOKER TO CHARLES DARWIN. Kew, Monday [August 6th,
1866].

Again thanks for your letter. You need not fear my not doing justice to
your objections to the continental hypothesis!

Referring to page 344 again (368/1. "Origin of Species," Edition III.,
pages 343-4: "In some cases, however, as by the breaking of an isthmus
and the consequent