I will just add in reference to your former letter that I fully admit that with birds the fighting of the males co-operates with their charms; and I remember quoting Bartlett that gaudy colouring in the males is almost invariably concomitant with pugnacity.  But, thank Heaven, what little more I can do in science will be confined to observation on simple points.  However much I may have blundered, I have done my best, and that is my constant comfort.—­Most truly yours,

C. DARWIN.

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Waldron Edge, Duppas Hill, Croydon.  September 14, 1878.

Dear Darwin,—­An appointment is soon to be made of someone to have the superintendence of Epping Forest under the new Act, and as it is a post which of all others I should like I am trying very hard to get up interest enough to secure it.

One of the means is the enclosed memorial, which has been already signed by Sir J. Hooker and Sir J. Lubbock, and to which I feel sure you will add your name, which I expect has weight “even in the City.”

In want of anything better to do I have been grinding away at a book on the Geography of Australia for Stanford for the last six months.

Hoping you are in good health, and with my best compliments to Mrs. Darwin and the rest of your family, believe me yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE

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Down, Beckenham, Kent.  September 16, 1878.

My dear Wallace,—­I return the paper signed, and most heartily wish that you may be successful, not only for your own sake, but for that of Natural Science, as you would then have more time for new researches.

I keep moderately well, but always feel half-dead, yet manage to work away on vegetable physiology, as I think that I should die outright if I had nothing to do.—­Believe me yours very sincerely,

CH.  DARWIN

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Walron Edge, Duppas Hill, Croydon.  September 23, 1878.

Dear Darwin,—­Many thanks for your signature and good wishes.  I have some hopes of success, but am rather doubtful of the Committee of the Corporation who will have the management, for they have just decided after a great struggle in the Court of Common Council that it is to be a rotatory Committee, every member of the Council (of whom there are 200) coming on it in succession if they please.  They evidently look upon it as a Committee which will have great opportunities of excursions, picnics, and dinners, at the expense of the Corporation, while the improvement of the Forest will be quite a secondary matter.

I am very glad to hear you are tolerably well.  It is all I can say of myself.—­Believe me yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

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