WCP2423

Letter (WCP2423.2313)

[1]

Townsville, Queensland

3 June 1890

AR Wallace Esq

Dear Sir

I have just had the pleasure of reading your book 'Darwinism' and noticed that you invited suggestions explaining the migrations across oceans of lizards etc.

I am not a naturalist but have lived for some time in what we Australians call the 'bush' and while doing so have observed that lizards etc frequent trees from which fact I would explain the migrations in this way.

That during storms or landslips trees or branches would be blown or precipitated into the sea, that on the trees there often would be lizards etc, that the trees with lizards and no doubt other small animals upon them would be floated long distances and finally be washed ashore where the animals would land & increases supposing the conditions of climate etc not to be prohibitive. Lizards in winter are I believe more or less dormant and in that state would be transported very long distances without food. Even when not dormant there would probably be sufficient food on the tree to enable the lizards to live during a long voyage.

Yours truly | J.A. Lynch [signature]

Please cite as “WCP2423,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2423