WCP4081

[1]^{1, 2}

9 St. Mark's Crescent N.W.

March 2nd. [1867]³

Dear Darwin

I am very glad you like my notion about the catterpillars [sic] It is a kind of "forlorn hope", but fortunately it can be easily tested.⁴

I dare say you are right about sexual selection in butterflies, but I still think that protective adaptation has kept down the colours of the females, because the Heliconidae and Danaidae⁵ are almost the only groups in which the females are generally equally brilliant with the males.

I can tell you several persons in the East who would I think observe "expression" for you. The [2]⁶ best is Mr. Charles Johnson Brooke⁷ acting Rajah of Sarawak[,] author of "Ten Years in Sarawak". Address him as

C — J — B — Esq,

Rajah Mudah

Sarawak, Borneo.

He has grand opportunities, as he sees Malays, Dyaks, & Chineese [sic] under all kinds of excitements, in war in hunting, in law suits and under every occasion of daily life. He would also I have no doubt send copies of your questions to some of the Missionaries and deputy governors in the interior.

Another person who would I am sure do the same for you is Mr. F. F. Geach,⁸ a young Cornish mining engineer, engaged in Tin & Copper mining in the interior of Malacca; — address, care of Mess^rs. Paterson Simons and Co. Singapore.⁹

[3] If you would send me a copy of your questions I sh[oul]^d. like to see how far I could answer them from memory.¹⁰

I certainly cannot yet see my way to any action of sexual selection in forming the races of man. Stealing wives from other tribes for instance is a very common practice, & it would I imagine tend to check any selective action. Youth is almost the only thing a savage cares about, and the handsomest & finest women very often become prostitutes & leave few or no offspring. The women certainly don't choose the men, & the men want chiefly in a wife, a servant. Beauty¹¹ [4] is I believe a very small consideration with most savages, as it is very rare to find a woman so plain as not to leave as many or more offspring than the most beautiful. This of course is a delicate subject to go into.

My present impression is, that the distinctive characters of human races are almost wholly due to correlation with constitutional adaptations to climate soil food & other external conditions. You must have facts of which I am quite ignorant, — & at all events your essay will be most welcome & is sure to be valuable.¹²

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