“On reading this letter I almost at once saw what seemed to be a very easy and probable explanation of the facts.  I had then just been preparing for publication (in the Westminster Review) my rather elaborate paper on ‘Mimicry and Protective Colouring,’ and the numerous cases in which specially showy and slow-flying butterflies were known to have a peculiar odour and taste which protected them from the attacks of insect-eating birds and other animals led me at once to suppose that the gaudily coloured caterpillars must have a similar protection.  I had just ascertained from Mr. Jenner Weir that one of our common white moths (Spilosoma menthastri) would not be eaten by most of the small birds in his aviary, nor by young turkeys.  Now, as a white moth is as conspicuous in the dusk as a coloured caterpillar in the daylight, this case seemed to me so much on a par with the other that I felt almost sure my explanation would turn out correct.  I at once wrote to Mr. Darwin to this effect.”

* * * * *

Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E.  February 26, 1867.

My dear Wallace,—­Bates was quite right, you are the man to apply to in a difficulty.  I never heard anything more ingenious than your suggestion, and I hope you may be able to prove it true.  That is a splendid fact about the white moths; it warms one’s very blood to see a theory thus almost proved to be true.[57] With respect to the beauty of male butterflies, I must as yet think that it is due to sexual selection; there is some evidence that dragonflies are attracted by bright colours; but what leads me to the above belief is so many male Orthoptera and Cicadas having musical instruments.  This being the case, the analogy of birds makes me believe in sexual selection with respect to colour in insects.  I wish I had strength and time to make some of the experiments suggested by you; but I thought butterflies would not pair in confinement; I am sure I have heard of some such difficulty.  Many years ago I had a dragonfly painted with gorgeous colours, but I never had an opportunity of fairly trying it.

The reason of my being so much interested just at present about sexual selection is that I have almost resolved to publish a little essay on the Origin of Mankind, and I still strongly think (though I failed to convince you, and this to me is the heaviest blow possible) that sexual selection has been the main agent in forming the races of man.

By the way, there is another subject which I shall introduce in my essay, viz. expression of countenance.  Now, do you happen to know by any odd chance a very good-natured and acute observer in the Malay Archipelago who, you think, would make a few easy observations for me on the expression of the Malays when excited by various emotions.  For in this case I would send to such person a list of queries.—­I thank you for your most interesting letters, and remain yours very sincerely,