Ɛpsilon

WCP2114

Letter (WCP2114.2004)

[1]

54 Sydenham Park

Belfast

May 12, 1882.

Dear Sir,

I do not know whether you will consider the fact which I am about to mention worthy of note; but as it may be so I venture to write to you on the subject. In reading your valuable work on "The distribution of Animals"1 I found a men [2] tion made (vol. II p. 171) of the Siamanga sycadaetyla which has the second & third toes united to the last joint, & it immediately struck me that the second & third toes on my right foot (only) nearly answer this description, the two appearing to spring from a common root & then to bifurcate near [3] the top —

I believe one of my sons has the same peculiarity — I would ascertain this if you thought it worth while.

Believe me | dear sir | yours truly | J. W. Hamilton2 [signature]

A. R. Wallace Esq

[4]3

1
Wallace, A. R. 1876. The geographical distribution of animals; with a study of the relations of living and extinct faunas as elucidating the past changes of the Earth's surface. London: Macmillan & Co. Two volumes.
2
Hamilton has not been identified.
3
In pencil by unknown hand, “J. Hamilton”.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP2114.2004)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Crane, Megan [2015-06-26] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2015-06-26] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2025-03-03]

Please cite as “WCP2114,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2114