WCP4020

[1]

76½, Westbourne Grove Bayswater. W.

Nov. 8th. 1867

Dear Newton

The only new species is my Spizaetus nanus, but the specimen is poor & wants the tip of the upper mandible.

I have a good specimen of Spizaetus kieneri, but I forget if that has already been figured. Look & see if I quote a figure in the Mss. and let me know to whom I shall send the specimen. I shall be back here for a few days on [2] November 20th (I am now going to Newcastle to Lecture). All the winter I shall be staying in the country & my address is, HurstpierpointSussex.

I have no sternum of Hierax: what you say about it is very curious, and as I know nothing of it I should prefer your putting a note about its doubtful affinities. [3]

I have just been looking over Huxley's paper in the Proceedings of [the] Zool[ogical]. Soc[iety].¹ and am very doubtful of some of his affinities. However I shall study it more closely by & by. Does not the fact of his finding closeaffinity between Cypselus and Hirundo

Podargus & Cancroma

indicate that palatal structure varies in accordance with general modifications of form & eye & function and may be comparatively unimportant? [4]²I cannot think this one character sh[oul]^d override differences of the sternum pterolysis, egg & foot structure & other good characters.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

A[lfred]. Newton Esq.