Do I understand your letter right, that West Africa (319/4.

This is of course a misunderstanding.) and Java belong to the same botanical region--i.e., that they have many non-littoral species in common?
If so, it is a sickening fact: think of the distance with the Indian Ocean interposed! Do some time answer me this.

With respect to polymorphism, which you have been so very kind as to give me so much information on, I am quite convinced it must be given up in the sense you have discussed it in; but from such cases as the Galapagos birds and from hypothetical notions on variation, I should be very glad to know whether it must be given up in a slightly different point of view; that is, whether the peculiar insular species are generally well and strongly distinguishable from the species on the nearest continent (when there is a continent near); the Galapagos, Canary Islands, and Madeira ought to answer this.

I should have hypothetically expected that a good many species would have been fine ones, like some of the Galapagos birds, and still more so on the different islands of such groups.
I am going to ask you some questions, but I should really sometimes almost be glad if you did not answer me for a long time, or not at all, for in honest truth I am often ashamed at, and marvel at, your kindness in writing such long letters to me.

So I beg you to mind, never to write to me when it bores you.