WCP1593

[1]

48 York Terrace,

N. W.

1 Jun./ 89

Dear Mr Wallace

I have read your work on Darwinism¹ with great delight, every page of it.

Will you permit me to add an illustration to those given at p. 306? Rooks are in the habit of burying acorns, and it is well that they do so, for the acorn loses its germination power very soon. When I was going to Ame[2]rica, now 40 years ago, Sir W^m. Hooker² requested me to roll up any I met with of new species in a ball of clay and cram them into a box. Upon my estate in Somersetshire a relative, my predecessor, planted several acres with fir, and among the fir trees the rooks planted oak, which as the firs have ^{from time to time} been cut down have replaced them. Oak trees spring up every year in our shrubbury at home from the kind offices of these kinds, but only the common species, and never the Qu. [3] Ilex³ or the Luccombe, although these fruit abundantly, and the acorns grow where we plant them. It is to be presumed that in foreign countries there are birds which disperse their indigenous oaks, for such large seeds require animal agency.

The fruit of Solanum Dulcam: is not at all poisonous. Thiselton Dyer⁴ tells me that he saw a gentleman eat a saucerful of them with milk & cream. The berries of the laurel (P. laurocerasus) are also quite wholesome. I have taste of them [4] mixed with Morello cherries or damsons every year.

It occurred to me in Jamaica that the bright seeds of Abrus precatoria and several other Leguminose might be picked up by birds in mistake for gravel.

A friend of mine, Sir James Moxon,⁵ is living at Farncombe Place, Old Godalming, a man of close observation and devoted to Nat. History. I venture to think you would find him a desirable acquaintance.

It is many years since I had the pleasure of meeting you, but hope you will not regard this as an intrusion.

Very truly yours | RCA Prior⁶ [signature]