WCP4376

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Nov[embe]^r. 28^th. 1889

My dear Mr. Poulton

I have much pleasure in sending you Cope’s book ^{with the Rev[iew?] of Darwinism} which I hope you will keep as long as you like, till you have mastered all its obscurities of style & eccentricities of argument. I think you will find a good deal in it to criticise, & it will be well for you to know what the leader of the Neo-Lamarckians regards [2] as the foundation stones of his theory. I greatly enjoyed my visit to Oxford, & only regretted that I could not have more time for personal talk with yourself, for I am so deplorably ignorant of modern physiology that I am delighted to get intelligible explanations of its bearings on the subjects that most interest me in science. I quite see all [3] its importance in investigations of the mechanism of colours, but there is so much still unknown, that it will be very hard to convince me that there is no other possible explanation of the peacock’s feather than the "continued preference by the females" for the most beautiful males in this one point "during a long time of descent" — as Darwin says! I expect however great light from your new book. I have just read "Geddes &Thompson" on Sex with much interest. The book is [4]¹ well written, clear & suggestive, all save its want of appreciation of the relative importance in producing actual existing structures, of these fundamental principles, as compared with variation & selection.

Pray thank Mrs. Poulton for her great kindness and attention to my comfort during my visit, which added much to my enjoyment, —

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

E.B. Poulton Esq.