Skip to page content

Wallace Letters Online

Share this:

Record number: WCP609

Sent by:
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent to:
Alfred Russel Wallace
On:
23 February [1867]

Sent by Charles Robert Darwin, Down, Bromley, Kent to Alfred Russel Wallace, [9 St Mark's Crescent, Regent's Park, London, N.W.] on 23 February [1867].

Record created:
01 June 2002 by Lucas, Paula J.
Verified by:
12/12/2012 - Szentgyorgyi, Katherine (All except summary checked);

Summary

Asking ARW's opinion, at H. W. Bates' suggestion, on the reason for the bright colouration of some caterpillars; says his health has been bad.

Record contains:

  • publication (2)
  • letter (1)

View item:

LETTER (WCP609.609)

A typical letter handwritten by author in English and signed by author.

Held by:
Natural History Museum
Finding number:
NHM WP1/9/58
Copyright owner:
©William H. Darwin
Record scrutiny:
12/12/2012 - Szentgyorgyi, Katherine;

Item notes

Physical description

Transcription information

View:

Transcript

[[1]]

Down.

Bromley.

Kent. S.E.

Feb. 231

Dear Wallace

I much regretted that I was unable to call on you, but after Monday I was unable even to leave the house. On Monday evening I called on Bates & put a difficulty before him, which he could not answer, & as on some former similar occasion, his first suggestion was, "you had better ask [[2]] Wallace". My difficulty is, why are caterpillars sometimes so beautifully & artistically coloured? Seeing that many are coloured to escape danger I can hardly attribute their bright colour in other cases to mere physical conditions. Bates says the most gaudy caterpillar he ever saw in Amazonia (of a Sphinx) was conspicuous at the distance of yards [[3]] from its black & red colouring whilst feeding on large green leaves. If anyone objected to male butterflies having been made beautiful by sexual selection, & asked why sh[oul]d. they not have been made beautiful as well as their caterpillars; what would you answer? I could not answer, but sh[oul]d. maintain my ground. Will you think over this, & some time, either by letter or when we meet, [[4]] tell me what you think. Also, I want to know whether your female mimetic butterfly is more beautiful & brighter than the male?

When next in London I must get you to show me your Kingfishers.--

My health is a dreadful evil, I failed in half my engagements during this last visit to London.--

Believe me | yours very sincerely | C. Darwin [signature]

ENDNOTES

1. The year "1867" has been written in red pencil after the day in an unidentified hand.

Please note that work on this transcript is not yet complete. Users are advised to study electronic image(s) of this document, if available.