WCP3924

[1]

Hamilton House, The Croft, Hastings.

Feb^y. 8th. 1889

Dear Mr. Hemsley¹

Many thanks for your observations on my last sheet. I have modified several expressions in accordance with some of your remarks but as to the main point — the attempted explanation of how very complex modes of adaptation to insect-fertilization arose while so many more simple modes exist, — and also why some of the most wide-spread plants have no such adaptations — I must hold to my view till a better is given.

On the theory of natural selection this is a vital point, and I cannot find that botanists have yet even recognised it as a difficulty much [2] less attempted to explain it. But in my great ignorance of recent botanical literature I may be quite wrong here, & the problem may have been recognised & solved. If so will you please refer me to the author –

I now send you another sheet on which cols. 166-168 refer to plants, and I shall be greatly obliged by any corrections or remarks you have to make on it. I send it without the following sheet ^{completing the special subjects,} because I am anxious to get on with the ^my work; & to wait till the succeeding sheet comes in before [3] sending them to you would cause great delay.

Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

W. B. Hemsley Esq.