WCP3973

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

Oct.[ober] 12th. 1889

My dear Sir¹

Thanks for your letters & paper. I do not remember meeting you but perhaps when we meet you will enable me to recall it. Any series of specimens illustrating extreme variation of colour would I think be very interesting.

As to useless colours, I am I hear to be attacked on that point for though I hold that by for the greater [2] part of the colours of organic beings are in some way useful to them, yet I think there are many patterns ^{and colours,} which are not useful except in as much as they are different from the patterns ^{or colours} of every other species.

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S. I have removed to Dorsetshire for the milder climate.

A.R.W. [signature]