240 Charles Darwin. 



ness of his character were apparent, while the delight 

 he manifested in stating facts of interest was excelled 

 only by the eagerness with which he sought them from 

 others, whether while strolling through the green- 

 house or sitting round the generously spread table. 



Going to him as a young entomologist with no 

 claim on his favour, he seemed to take delight in 

 manifesting appreciation. I had occasion, in my 

 "Third Report on the Insects of Missouri," pub- 

 lished in the spring of that year, to discuss the ques- 

 tion of natural selection in its bearings on mimicry, 

 as exemplified in two of our North American but- 

 terflies (Danais archippus and Limenitis disippus). 

 This report I found in his study with many leaves 

 turned down, and he appeared to take especial 

 pleasure in conveying a sense of his appreciation of 

 particular parts. 



The few letters which I received from Danvin were 

 in his own handwriting, which was rapid and better 

 calculated to save time than to facilitate the reading. 

 I take the liberty of reproducing here the first and 

 last as indicating his attitude toward all workers in 

 the field of natural science, however humble or how- 

 ever undeserving of his praise they may have been ; 

 and this generous trait in his character will explain, 

 in some measure, the stimulus and encouragement 

 which he gave to investigators : 



DOWN, 

 JUNE i, [1871.] BECKENHAM, KENT. 



MY DEAR SIR : I received some little time ago 

 your " Report on Noxious Insects," and have now 

 read the whole with the greatest interest. There is 

 a vast number of facts and generalisations of value 



