WCP4355

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming

Nov[ember] 4^th 1888

My dear Mr. Poulton

I returned you the first of Weismann’s Essays, with a few notes and corrections in pencil on that on "Duration of Life". Looking over some old papers I have just come across a short sketch in two pages, on "The Action of Natural Selection in producing Old Age, Decay, & Death" written over 20 years ago. I had the same general idea as Weismann, but not that beautiful suggestion of the duration of life, in each case, being the minimum necessary for the preservation of the Species. That, I think masterly. [2] The paper on "Heredity" is intensely interesting, & I am waiting anxiously for the concluding part. I will refer to these papers in notes to my book though perhaps your’s [sic] will be out first. What is the title to be — "Weismann’s Essays"?

I hope you have the two drawings of the Flower-Mantis (sent me by Wood-Mason from Calcutta.) They make a most lovely slide, & which were sent you by the photographer from London. [3] What an excellent reply to Romanes Thistelton-Dyer¹ [sic] has given in this week’s "Nature"[.] — It is so cool and contemptuous that R[omanes] will, I sh[oul]d think, be "riled". I was going to write a few lines myself but as I have treated the subject rather fully in my book I think I will refrain.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

E. B. Poulton Esq.