WCP4348

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming

May 1^st 1886

Dear Mr. Poulton

Our friend Meldola tells me that some year or two ^{(or more)} back Dr Woodmason of Calcutta sent to the Oxford Museum a native drawing of a Mantis’ which closely resembled a flower. As I am getting up a set of lantern-slides illustrating the various phases of mimicry & protection for my lectures in America I should much like to have one made from this drawing. Meldola thought it would be w[oul]d be useless writing to Prof[essor] Westwood as he is now almost past work & would probably know or remember nothing about the drawing & he suggested [2] my writing to Dr Woodmason¹ for a copy of it. But this could involve much delay & might not succeed. It has occurred to me that you may probably have seen the drawing or, if not, may be able to get at it through Prof[essor] Westwood’s assistant Curator. If so you would greatly oblige me by getting it photographed for a slide, & if you will order the negative to be sent to me I will get the positive made & coloured if you will kindly give me a note of the colour of the [3] different parts. Or if you have any one in Oxford who does these things it may be coloured from the drawing & I will gladly pay the usual charge.

Excuse me for troubling you, but as you are so much interested in the subject & are on the spot I thought you would probably assist me.

Believe me | Yours very truly| Alfred R Wallace [signature]