WCP2381

Letter (WCP2381.2271)

[1]1, 2, 3

Oct[ober]: 5/[18]78

Rosneath4

My dear Sir

I shall be v[er]y glad if my signature to the Paper5 you refer to sh[oul]d prove of any use to you.

May I ask you a question on a point of [2] natural History which I think you will be better able to answer than most men.

Do monkeys pair — that is — are they monogamous animals? My impression is that they are. But I am [3]6 not sure on this point[.]

Among Birds — some species in the same Genus, are monogamous, whilst others are polygamous[.] As — the Grouse which pair and Black[part of word illeg] which do not.

Among the mammalia [4] there is the same difference But their habit, on this respect, is liable to change on domestication[.] Domestic dogs do not pair. But Foxes do and I suspect also the Wild Dogs do so also.

The habit among the "Primates" In this matter is a subject [5]7, 8, 9 of interest. and as it has fallen in my way to enquire into it, I sh[oul]d be glad to know what your extensive knowledge enables you to offer me upon the [6] question.

I have always understood that the "Anthopoid Apes" especially are strictly pairing animals.

Will you be so good as address to [7]10 me 11 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh[.]

[1 word illeg] | Argyll11, 12 [signature]

1
Text in another hand in the top right corner reads "A.R.W.".
2
Text in another hand in the top left corner reads "421".
3
The page is edged with a wide black border, an indication of a period of mourning, which for a widower was one year. Victoriana Magazine <http://www.victoriana.com/VictorianPeriod/mourning.htm> [accessed 10 March 2015]. Argyll's first wife, Lady Elizabeth, died on 25 May 1878. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
4
Rosneath Castle in Scotland, the home of the Duke of Argyll at this time.
5
Wallace was collecting signatures in support of his application for the new post of Superintendant of Epping Forest.
6
Text in another hand in the top right corner reads "422".
7
Text in another hand in the top right corner reads "423".
8
The page has the printed text "Rosneath" in the centre at the top.
9
The page is edged with a wide black border — see note 3.
10
Text in another hand in the top right corner reads "424".
11
Campbell, George John Douglas (1823-1900). 8th duke of Argyll. Politician and scientist. He was especially interested in evolution and economics. ODNB and Wikipedia.
12
Text in another hand across the bottom of the page reads "Addressed to Alfred R. Wallace.".

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP2381.2271)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Ghosh, Susan [2018-08-15]

Please cite as “WCP2381,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2381