Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S. E. R.
Jan 15th
My dear Häckel
I have been astonished by just receiving your beautiful book on corals. I thought you were going to publish a mere pamphlet on some new species. The drawings are the most wonderful things I ever saw in my whole life. Those of the corals excel photographs in clearness, & it like having the specimens themselves well cleaned on the || table. What an artist you are! I thank you heartily for this valuable present. In the course of a few days I will begin & read the text.