196 EVOLUTION [CHAP. Ill 



Letter 133 me, observing is much better sport than writing. I fear that 

 I shall have wearied you with this long note. 



Pray believe that I feel sincerely grateful that you have 

 taken up the cudgels in defence of the line of argument in the 

 Origin ; you will have benefited the subject. 



Many are so fearful of speaking out. A German naturalist 

 came here the other day ; and he tells me that there are many 

 in Germany on our side, but that all seem fearful of speaking 

 out, and waiting for some one to speak, and then many 

 will follow. The naturalists seem as timid as young ladies 

 should be, about their scientific reputation. There is much 

 discussion on the subject on the Continent, even in quiet 

 Holland ; and I had a pamphlet from Moscow the other day 

 by a man who sticks up famously for the imperfection of 

 the " Geological Record," but complains that I have sadly 

 understated the variability of the old fossilised animals ! But 

 I must not run on. 



Letter 134 To H. W. Bates. 



Down, Sept. 25th [1861]. 



Now for a few words on science. Many thanks for facts 

 on neuters. You cannot tell how I rejoice that you do not 

 think what I have said on the subject absurd. Only two 

 persons have even noticed it to me viz., the bitter sneer of 

 Owen in the Edinburgh Review} and my good friend and 

 supporter, Sir C. Lyell, who could only screw up courage to 

 say, " Well, you have manfully faced the difficulty." 



What a wonderful case of Volucella? of which I had never 

 heard. I had no idea such a case occurred in nature ; I must 

 get and see specimens in British Museum. I hope and 

 suppose you will give a good deal of Natural History in your 

 Travels ; every one cares about ants more notice has 



1 Edinbtirgh Review, April, 1860, p. 525. 



2 Vohtcella is a fly one of the Syrphida supposed to supply a case 

 of mimicry ; this was doubtless the point of interest with Bates. 

 Dr. Sharp says \_Insects, Part II. (in the Camb. Nat. Hist, series), 

 1899, p. 500]: " It was formerly assumed that the Volucella larvae lived 

 on the larvas of the bees, and that the parent flies were providentially 

 endowed with a bee-like appearance that they might obtain entrance into 

 the bees' nests without being detected." Dr. Sharp goes on to say that 

 what little is known on the subject supports the belief that the "presence 

 of the Volucella in the nests is advantageous to both fly and bee." 



