WCP642

[1]

Waldron Edge, Duppas Hill, Croydon.

Feb^y. 19^th. 1879

My dear Carruthers¹

Can you form any opinion on the following point. Are tropical fruits on the average more or less coloured than those of the temperate zone? In other words, is the proportion of red, yellow, black, & white fruits, to those which are green or brown, greater in the tropical or the temperate flora?. According to my recollection, coloured fruits were rare in the tropics, & speaking generally I should fancy the proportion of coloured fruits in England is greater. Of course I speak wholly of wild fruits.

If you cannot give an opinion, do [2] you know if anybody has written anything on the subject. The facts would be important one way or the other in regard to the question of the colour sense in animals & sexual selection, as discussed in Grant Allen’s² clever book on the "Colour Sense"³ which I am writing a review⁴ of. If you can give me any information I shall be glad of it at your earliest convenience.

I have heard nothing about "Epping Forest" lately, except that the Official Arbitrator — Sir Arthur Hobhouse⁵ is delighted with my article,⁶ — but unfortunately he has no direct power [3] over the Committee.

Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

W. Carruthers Esq.