WCP4117

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Oct[obe]^r 2nd. 1899

Prof.[essor] James Geikie

My dear Sir

A writer in "Science" (N.S.vol.IV.no.95) says that my arguments for the ice-origin of alpine valley-lake basins, have "an air of special pleading"- because I do not refer to the "many Swiss geologists" who have reported "facts if deformation", and especially the essay of Aeppli on Lake Zurich.

As I, unfortunately, cannot read German will you kindly tell me if you have met with any proofs that the true alpine valley-lakes [2] can have been formed by earth-movements, which can be shown to have been sufficiently recent & of sufficient amount & rapidity to produce the results. I see by the map that Lake Zurich is not on the line of any great alpine valley and could not have been occupied by any very large glaciers, to that even it were shown to be wholly or partly due to earth-movements that would not affect the other lakes whose size & depth [3] hear such a close relation to the bulk of the glaciers that are known to have occupied them.

I am thinking of reprinting my miscellaneous papers in a volume, & should like to reply to the American criticism if possible. If you can refer me to any French or English books giving the audience for deformation that will answer my purpose, but I shall be also much obliged in your conclusion on the facts adduced [4] by the Swiss geologists.

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