WCP1790

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming.

Sept^r 27th. 1888

Dear Mr. Baker¹

Will you be so good as to answer a question which I think you can do without any trouble, as you worked up the entire flora of Mauritius & the adjacent islands. I want to know if among the endemic trees or shrubs there are any spiny species, — and if there are, whether they are much less proportionately or equal to the spiny plants of continental floras. It will afford a good test of the opposing theories of mammalian [2] protection, — & diminished nutrition Mr Hemsley² has given me some facts from other islands but Mauritius seems to afford an excellent test case.

Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

J. G. Baker Esq.