Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.
May 16 1878
My dear Sir
Your letter just received is highly interesting, & I have forwarded it to Mr Meldola, who is Secy. to the Entomolog. Soc., & no doubt will be delighted to read extracts at the next meeting.1 I am astonished at the many new & curious facts which you continually observe.
Many thanks for the information about the Mimosa; when it is in flower, will you kindly send me a few dried flowers & leaves that I may get the species named.2 At any time when walking in the rain, & you shd pass near a Cassia, please to observe whether the leaves are all deflexed.
I was very glad to receive the seeds of Cassia neglecta; but the greater number were destroyed by a curious beetle, which had been developed & were alive in the packet. I sent this beetle to the Entomol. Soc.3
When next you write, please to tell me whether Cassia neglecta is the species which grows near the sea-side, of which you before sent me seeds.4
In my former letter I said that none of the seeds of Pontederia had germinated; but now 4 seedlings have come up!!5
With cordial thanks for all your great kindness, I remain | my dear Sir | yours sincerely | Charles Darwin
I am very sorry to hear about the yellow Fever.—6
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-11512,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on