My dear Darwin,--I hope you will have received a copy of my last book, "Island Life," as I shall be very glad of your opinion on certain points in it. The first five chapters you need not read, as they contain nothing fresh to you, but are necessary to make the work complete in itself. The next five chapters, however (VII. to X.), I think, will interest you. As I _think_, in Chapters VIII. and IX. I have found the true explanation of geological climates, and on this I shall be very glad of your candid opinion, as it is the very foundation-stone of the book. The rest will not contain much that is fresh to you, except the three chapters on New Zealand. Sir Joseph Hooker thinks my theory of the Australian and New Zealand floras a decided advance on anything that has been done before. In connection with this, the chapter on the Azores should be read. Chap. XVI. on the British Fauna may also interest you. I mention these points merely that you may not trouble yourself to read the whole book, unless you like. Hoping that you are well, believe me yours very faithfully, ALFRED R. WALLACE. * * * * * _Down, Beckenham, Kent. November 3, 1880._ My dear Wallace,--I have now read your book,[113] and it has interested me deeply. It is quite excellent, and seems to me the best book which you have ever published; but this may be merely because I have read it last. As I went on, I made a few notes,[114] chiefly when I differed strongly from you; but God knows whether they are worth your reading. You will be disappointed with many of them; but they will show that I had the will, though I did not know the way, to do what you wanted. I have said nothing on the infinitely many passages and views which I admired and which were new to me. My notes are badly expressed; but I thought that you would excuse my taking any pains with my style. I wish that my confounded handwriting was better. I had a note the other day from Hooker, and I can see that he is _much_ pleased with the Dedication. With all good wishes, believe me yours sincerely, CH. DARWIN. In two or three weeks you will receive a book from me; if you care to know what it is about, read the paragraph in Introduction about new terms and then the last chapter, and you will know whole contents of book. * * * * * _Pen-y-bryn, St. Peter's Road, Croydon. November 8, 1880._ My dear Darwin,--Many thanks for your kind remarks and notes on my book. Several of the latter will be of use to me if I have to prepare a second edition, which I am not so sure of as you seem to be.