Of course, I shall immediately read those that are new or greatly altered, and I will endeavour to be as honest as can reasonably be expected. Your book looks remarkably well got up.--Believe me, my dear Wallace, to remain yours very cordially, CH. DARWIN * * * * * _Down, Beckenham, Kent, S.E. June 5, 1870._ My dear Wallace,--As imitation and protection are your subjects I have thought that you would like to possess the enclosed curious drawing. The note tells all I know about it.--Yours very sincerely, CH. DARWIN P.S.--I read not long ago a German article on the colours of _female_ birds, and that author leaned rather strongly to your side about nidification. I forget who the author was, but he seemed to know a good deal.--C.D. * * * * * _Holly House, Barking, E. July 6, 1870._ Dear Darwin,--Many thanks for the drawing. I must say, however, the resemblance to a snake is not very striking, unless to a cobra not found in America. It is also evident that it is not Mr. Bates's caterpillar, as that threw the head backwards so as to show the feet above, forming imitations of keeled scales. Claparède has sent me his critique on my book. You will probably have it too. His arguments in reply to my heresy seem to me of the weakest. I hear you have gone to press, and I look forward with fear and trembling to being crushed under a mountain of facts! I hear you were in town the other day. When you are again, I should be glad to come at any convenient hour and give you a call. Hoping your health is improving, and with kind remembrances to Mrs. Darwin and all your family, believe me yours very faithfully, ALFRED R. WALLACE. * * * * * In "My Life" (Vol. II., p. 7) Wallace wrote: "In the year 1870 Mr. A.W. Bennett read a paper before Section D of the British Association at Liverpool entitled 'The Theory of Natural Selection from a Mathematical Point of View,' and this paper was printed in full in _Nature_ of November 10, 1870. To this I replied on November 17, and my reply so pleased Mr. Darwin that he at once wrote to me as follows:" _Down, Beckenham, Kent, S.E. November 22, 1870._