Ɛpsilon

WCP2324

Letter (WCP2324.2214)

[1]

Magd. Coll.

20 June 1875.

My dear Wallace,

Accept my thanks for returning the Palaearctic Lists — There is no need for apology at having marked them — on the contrary it is of some use to me to see the line you are taking. We want more information about Moussin no doubt, but having gone most carefully over David's1 list I have come to the conclusion that it is decidedly Palaearctic rather [2] than Indian (or Oriental as you call it).

What my own opinions on nomenclature may be I hardly care to enquire. I will try to put in force Strickland's2 rules — because there are none other that form a reasonable code & certainly none to the principle of which zoologists generally have given their adhesion. If each of us holds this that or the other [illeg.] & sets upon it we shall never be any nearer [3] uniformity. On your own principle we ought to allow Daulias to stand — because Luscinia is a "specific generic name” — but your principle would introduce more new names than almost any other I know. Fancy discarding such names as Buteo & Milous!

Salvin3 has promised to send over Mr. Lewis's4 article to read, but we I did not think it looked very much to the purpose when I saw int for a few minutes in his hands.

The "ingrained knowledge" of which you write exists I fear in your [4] own imagination only. My ignorance astonishes myself & the only consolation I have is that I presumably know where to find out what I want.

Believe me | Yours very truly | Alfred Newton5 [signature]

Are you going to hear Capt. Lawson6 on Tuesday? I have not read his book,7 but I can't help thinking he is laughing in his sleeve.

1
David has not been identified.
2
Strickland, Hugh Edwin (1811-1853). British geologist, ornithologist, naturalist and systematist.
3
Salvin, Osbert (1835-1898). British naturalist, ornithologist and herpetologist.
4
Lewis has not been identified.
5
Newton, Alfred (1829-1907). British zoologist and ornithologist. Founding member of the British Ornithologists' Union.
6
Lawson, John A. (-). Author.
7
. Lawson, J. A. 1875. Wanderings in the Interior of New Guinea. London: Chapman & Hall. Actual identity still debated. ARW dismisses this much-derided book as poor fiction.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP2324.2214)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Congerton, John [2019-02-21] Transcription checked by Congerton, John [2019-02-21] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP2324,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2324