The Wallace-Darwin Correspondence 



conclusions, and I like much to be in accord with you. I 

 believe I was mainly deceived by single variation© offering 

 such simple illustrations, as when man selects. 



We heartily congratulate you on the birth of your little 

 daughter. — Yours very sincerely, q. Darwin. 



Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E. March 5, 1869. 



My dear Wallace,— I was delighted at receiving your 

 book' this morning. The whole appearance and the illus- 

 trations with which it [is] so profusely ornamented are 

 quite beautiful. Blessings on you and your publisher for 

 having the pages cut and gilded. 



As for the dedication, putting quite aside how far I 

 deserve what you say, it seems to me decidedly the best 

 expressed dedication which I have ever met. 



The reading will probably last me a month, for I dare 

 not have it read aloud, as I know that it will set me 

 thinking. 



I see that many points will interest me greatly. When 

 I have finished, if I have anything particular to say, I will 

 write again. Accept my cordial thanks. The dedication 

 is a thing for my children's children to be proud of. — Yours 

 most eincerely, Ch. Darwin. 



9 St. Mark's Crescent, N.W. March 10, 1869. 



Dear Darwin, — Thanks for your kind note. I could not 

 persuade Mr. Ma^millan to cut more than twenty-five copies 

 for my own friends, and he even seemed to think this a sign 

 of most strange and barbarous taste. 



Mr. Weir's paper on the kinds of larvae, etc., eaten or 

 rejected by insectivorous birds was read at the last meet- 

 ing of the Entomological Society and was most interesting 

 and satisfactory. His observations and experiments, so far 



1 " Malay Archipelago." 

 235 



