WCP4042

[1]

The Dell, Grays, Essex

April 9th. 1875

Dear Newton¹

Your note² is really too flattering, as the obligation is quite as much on my side for your valuable suggestions.

The only word I don’t quite like is "seems destined to place." — would not — "will doubtless place" — or "will, it is believed, place"— or "will it is hoped, place" — be simpler?

Huxley³ was the first to give me a place in Geography, and ^I think the first time he used the term was in his paper on Alectromorphae, — P.L.S. 1868. p. 313,— because he there says "coincide with what may be called ‘Wallace’s Line’"—. The strait between [2] Baly & Lombock is called "Lombock Strait" — that between Baly & Java being "Bali Strait".

Also Geological or stratigraphical connection, I doubt it. I believe both islands are wholly volcanic they are in fact two large volcanoes which have arisen in the sea near each other, & are still active though dormant. ^{(They smoke a little.)} They may have heaved up some identical ^submarine stratified deposits but I don’t know there is any proof of this.

[3] You say in one of your letters that Salvin⁴ found Bassaris in Guatemala. It is not in his list (by Tomes⁵) of Guatemala Mammals. Where is it noted? Do not trouble to answer this query till you have occasion to write. I sent back the "Tres Marias"⁶ paper yesterday. Are there not a few peculiar birds from "Cocos Is." W. of Panama. I cannot find any account of them?

There are several points in your last letter that would admit of long discussion; — but it must be deferred till a [4]⁷ more convenient opportunity.

Yours very truly│Alfred R. Wallace [signature]