My dear Sir

I write merely to thank you for your letter of May 3^d, enclosing several curious photographs. I received, also, a little time ago the wonderful photograph of the natives of Queensland, & I never saw such hideous wretches.— The natives of New Guinea are Apollos in comparison.²

As M^r Wallace is the great authority on protective imitation, I sent him the Photo of the cocoon with your account, as it seems a very remarkable case.—³

Prof. Huxley was here the other day, but has just gone abroad for two months, as he has been much out of health: on his return I will tell him about the hopping Lizards.⁴

Pray believe me | yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

P.S. As you are so kind as to offer me information, will you observe & tell me, whether during rainy weather, (or at other times in damp & shady valleys) the worms throw up on the grass-lawns or plains, or in the woods many vermiform castings or little heaps of their earthy excrement? You will remember the appearance of lawns in the Spring & autumn in Europe.— In India I hear that the ground is covered during the rainy season with gigantic castings.— Is Australia too dry for the worms thus to act?

I have opened my letter to insert this, & sh^d. be grateful for an answer—