brings forward the same case, arguing that the ostriches should have acquired better wings within the historic period; but as they are now the swiftest of animals they evidently do not want their wings, which in their present state may serve some other trifling purpose in their economy such as fans, or balancers, which may have prevented their being reduced to such rudiments as in the cassowaries.  The difficulty to me seems to be, how, if they once had flight, could they have lost it, surrounded by swift and powerful carnivora against whom it must have been the only defence?

This probably is all clear to you, but I think it is a point you might touch upon, as I think the objection will seem a strong one to most people.

In a day or two I go to Devonshire for a few weeks and hope to lay in a stock of health to enable me to stick to work at my collections during the winter.  I begin to find that large collections involve a heavy amount of manual labour which is not very agreeable.

Present my compliments to Mrs. and Miss Darwin, and believe me yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

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1 Carlton Terrace, Southampton.  August 20, 1862.

My dear Mr. Wallace,—­You will not be surprised that I have been slow in answering when I tell you that my poor boy[36] became frightfully worse after you were at Down; and that during our journey to Bournemouth he had a slight relapse here and my wife took the scarlet fever rather severely.  She is over the crisis.  I have had a horrid time of it, and God only knows when we shall be all safe at home again—­half my family are at Bournemouth.

I have given a piece of the comb from Timor to a Mr. Woodbury (who is working at the subject), and he is extremely interested by it (I was sure the specimen would be valuable) and has requested me to ascertain whether the bee (A. testacea) is domesticated when it makes its combs.  Will you kindly inform me?

Your remarks on ostriches have interested me, and I have alluded to the case in the Third Edition.  The difficulty does not seem to me so great as to you.  Think of bustards, which inhabit wide open plains, and which so seldom take flight:  a very little increase in size of body would make them incapable of flight.  The idea of ostriches acquiring flight is worthy of Westwood; think of the food required in these inhabitants of the desert to work the pectoral muscles!  In the rhea the wings seem of considerable service in the first start and in turning.[37] ...

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5 Westbourne Grove Terrace, W. September 30, 1862.

My dear Mr. Darwin,—­Many thanks for the third edition of the “Origin,” which I found here on my return from Devonshire on Saturday.  I have not had time yet to read more than the Historical Sketch, which is very interesting, and shows that the time had quite come for your book.