WCP2481

[1]¹

30, Cumberland Road,

Kew.

December 11^th. 1910.

My dear M^r. Wallace,

Although I have only read half through your very interesting book², yet I cannot refrain from writing at once to tell you how much pleasure it is giving me, and to thank you for it.

I am much impressed by your remarks on the desirability of establishing in tropical regions "forest-reserves" — which become easily practicable now that you show how small they need to be. [2] It happened that Sir Leonard Lyell³

(who is hard at work in the Royal Commission on Coast-erosion and Forest preservation) called in last evening to have a chat, and I talked with him on the subject. He has just returned from America, where he has had the opportunity of seeing the magnificent Reservations and National Parks our Cousins have established. I hope he may have the opportunity of doing something in urging the government to act in this matter in all the tropical districts of the colonies. Your book cannot fail, I should think, to arouse interest in the subject.

[3]⁴ I am very pleased with your Chapters on the Geological Record. What an enormous amount has been learned concerning ancestral forms, both of plants and animals, since the chapters on the subject were written in the "Origin of Species"⁵.! I fear that there is a danger of forgetting — amid all these splendid discoveries — how very imperfect the record is, and always must be. Darwin's⁶ splendid comparisons of the record to the very mutilated volume of a work on history must always remain true. I am tempted again in reading your book to "peep-on" and always come back to the point I had reached with new satisfaction & pleasure. [4] I feel sure that all your friends will congratulate you on that preservation of health and energy, which has enabled you to give to the world this delightful volume. And I am equally certain that the numerous suggestions, which are opened out in it, cannot fail of exercising [sic] an important influence, not only among men of Science, but on the general public. In myself, the pleasure is enhanced by the fact that I have received from your own hands this great mark of friendliness.

Believe me to remain, | Yours very faithfully | John W. Judd⁷ [signature]