WCP4078

[1]¹

5. Westbourne Grove Terrace W.

Sept^r. 26th. 1863

My dear Mr Darwin¹

I enclose you some flowers of a Melastoma just received from a friend at Singapore — Unfortunately he gives me very little information about them except that "in every case they were swarming with ants[.]" Perhaps by examining the flowers you can find out something.

My friend Mr. Tristram¹ informed me the other day of an interesting [2] fact on acclimatization of plants similar to that of the rhododendrons mentioned by D^r. Hooker.² I note the particulars on the opposite page.

I have seen quite a number of striped horses in London. At least 4 or 5 Cab horses striped on the legs all more or less clay coloured, & lately a pony, with strong dorsal stripe, two shoulder stripes, & bands on fore legs.

I hope you are now better in health & that we may soon hope to have your volume on "Domestication &c."³

I have the bees comb of oval cells promised from two friends in the [3]⁴ East but there seems some difficulty in getting it.

With best wishes I remain | my dear Mr. Darwin | yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

C. Darwin Esq.

"W. E. Surtees⁵ Esq. (of Seaton Carew, (Devon) ^Durham, had a quantity of furze killed by the frost (Xmas 1860) at an estate of his in Devonshire, all except a small patch which he had raised himself from seed from the neighbourhood of Aberdeen[.]"

Communicated by Mr. Surtees to the Rev^d. H. B. Tristram, Greatham Vicarage, Durham[.]