WCP4036

[1]

The Dell, Grays, Essex.

Feb.[ruar]^y 14th. 1875.

My Dear Newton¹

I am glad the "Acclimatization" article pleases you. Although the matter is really so simple not one person in a hundred seems to understand it yet.

I do not expect to go press into my Geog[raphical] Distrib[ution] book² till ^{July or} August, that will I suppose be too late for you. I sh[oul]^d however be glad to let you look at any of the Mss. that would be of use to you, and in order that you many judge, & because I owe some valuable hints to you, I will give you an outline of the plan [2] of the work, which after much computation & many trials I have now carried out almost to completion, at least too far to alter it.

The work will consist of 3 parts.

Part. I. The theory of the subject of General Principles, — will consist of a series of short chapters on

Multiplication & Dispersal of Animals

Physical Geography & Geology affecting Distribution

Zoological Regions

Classifications, etc.

Part II. Zoological Geography.

Will consist of Six Chapters each devoted to one Region. In these is given a general sketch of the Zoology of the Region,— especially as regard peculiar characteristic groups, & relations with other regions. The classes treated of are Mammalian, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fresh water fish, [3] Insects, illustrated by important graphs of Lepidoptera³ and Coleoptera⁴ Land Mollusca⁵. Then each subregion is treated separately as to its special peculiarities and special relations to other regions, and general theories of former ^land- connections be briefly discussed.

At the end of each chapter are two tables, of Families in the region, & of Genera of Mammalia & of Birds with their distribution & number of species.⁶

Then will come (I think) a chapter on extinct animals, showing how they illustrate & modify the conclusions arrived at by study of living animals. I was going to include this under each region; but I now think that would back it up & necessitate reflection.

Part III. Geographical Zoology

This consists of a short account of every family of the Classes included in the work,— giving the distribution of every genus where materials exist. In this part the Marine fishes & shells are [4] included, & the distribution ^{of the family} briefly given. I head each Family trees: [Following table is represented as close as possible]

Family 31. Ursidae (5 genera 15 species)

	Neotropical	Nearctic	Palearctic	Ethiopian	Oriental	Australian
General Distribution	1 — — —	1.2.3.4	1.2.3.4		1.2.3.4

Then follows matter which may occupy a few lines & several pages, ending with a [note] of the chief extinct forms, unless thought better to give them at end of the Order..

After each order a general sketch of the distribution of the whole ^order given.

Thus the whole subject is gone over from the point of view of the Faunist & of the Mongrapher or from that of the local zoologist & the Systematic Zoologist,— & though this necessitates much repetition I do not think a work would be half as useful which left out either of these divisions.

The book will be a large and expensive one, but of course if liked it can be reduced for schools etc. We reckon it will occupy two full sized 8vo volumes, closely printed, of [5] 400 or 500 pp each.

I propose to illustrate it by a map of the Globe showing their regions & subregions,- & the sea colored in bands of depth, so as to show the relation of the region to each other & regions isolations by deep seas.

Also 6 maps of the regions each showing elevation by shaded colours,— & vegetation ( fresh pastures & deserts) by colours. Here I apprehend will show at a glance the reason of many of the limitations of genera & species & will be valuable aids to study independently of the book.

Besides these, Macmillan wants illustrations, to make the book popular. So we are (I think) to have [6] a series of Plants, as accurately & picturesquely done as possible, each illustrating a group of animals (birds & mammalia) peculiar to some one country and characteristic of some one region or subregion.

The whole of P[ar]t. III is finished except some of the connections of detail & revision

P[ar]t. II. is mostly finished except the Neotropical & Ethiopian regions which I am now at work on.

P[ar]t. I. is written, but will probably be rewritten as many fresh ideas have come up during my work.

If the Part "Birds" of part III. would [7] be of any use to you. I sh[oul]d be happy to let you have it for a week, but you must also have the Chap. on Zool[ogical] Regions to understand my Plan.

I forgot to say that under each Subregion I give a sketch of the insular faunas belonging to it where these are of interest, and go somewhat fully into special cases, on the Atlantic Islands,— Pacific Islands, Galapagos &c....

Yet everything has to be brief & condensed,— too much condensed I am afraid for popularity,— & the work would go to an unreasonable length & I sh[oul]^d never finish it.

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[8] P.S. I think I must call the Book,—

"The Geographical Distribution of Land Animals" or the dredging men will be down upon me for leaving out the "most important part of the animal kingdom" &.c &c... Can you suggest any better title?

A.R.W. [signature]