To H. M. Wallis   31 March 1881

Dear Sir,

I am much obliged for your interesting letter—¹ I am glad to hear that you are looking to other ears, & will visit the Zool.g. Gardens— Under these circumstances it would be incomparably better (as more authentic) if you would publish a notice of your observations in Nature or some scientific journal.² Would it not be well to confine your attention to infants, as more likely to retain any primordial character, and offering less difficulty in observing.

I think though it w^d. be worth while to observe whether there is any relation (though probably none) between much hairiness on the ears of an infant and the presence of the “tip” on the folded margin.³ Could you not get an accurate sketch of the direction of the hair of the tip of an ear?

The fact which you communicate about the Goat. Sucker is very curious.⁴ About the difference in the power of flight in Dorkings &^c may it not be due merely to greater weight of body in the adults?⁵

I am so old that I am not likely ever again to write on general & difficult points in the theory of Evolution.

I shall use what little strength is left me for more confined & easy subjects.

Pray believe me with all good wishes, Dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin