WCP1787

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Sept^r. 5th. 1909

Prof. O. Beccari¹

Dear Sir

My friend, D^r. F. H. H. Guillemard,² has suggested my applying to you for certain botanical data relating to Italy and to New Guinea.

For a book I am now writing I am making a comparison of the richness in species of Phanerograms of various Areas, large and small, in different regions from the Arctic to the Equatorial, with [2] an attempt to explain their differences on the general theory of Evolution.

I shall be much obliged if you can give me the following numerical data—

(1) Species of Phanerograms in Italy.

(2) The same for Sicily

(3) The same for any small areas — from about 100 Eng^sh. square miles, up to those of 1000 or 2000 — should any such enumerations exist.

Any two area of approximately equal size, one in the Alpine [3] the other in the lowland regions would also be acceptable.

_______

As to New Guinea, I understand that the part you visited was poor botanically; but, since then I understand ^{am informed} that very interesting collections have been made, showing that other parts are both rich and ^highly peculiar.

As no doubt you are acquainted with all that has been published on the subject, I shall be much obliged if you can give me, approximately, the number of species of Phanerograms yet described (or collected) from New Guinea and how far these compare [4] with what is at present known of the riches of the Bornean flora.

Excuse me for the troubling you with these enquiries, but it is because you are almost the only botanist who has visited both these great islands.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]