WCP4379

Letter (WCP4379.4626)

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Jany. 19th. 1890

My dear Mr. Poulton1

A further simplification of Colour uses has occurred to me which I have set down on other side.

I think if you put your greek [sic] terms to these they will come out more intelligibly to the general reader.

Yours faithfully| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Poulton, Edward Bagnall (1856-1943). British entomologist. Hope Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Jesus College.

Enclosure (WCP4379.4628)

[1]

The Colours of Animals serve, either

I. To Conceal or II. To Render Visible

A. From Enemies,

a. By harmony with actual surroundings

b. By Resemblance to some inedible object (Protective Colouration)

A. For Recognition by their Kind.

__________

B. From their Prey

a. By harmony as above

b. By resembling an object which attracts its prey —

(Alluring Colouration)

B. As a Signal to Enemies

a. Of inedibility

b. Of offensive weapons

c. By deceptive resemblance to last two groups, though edible and harmless. (Mimicry)

d. By Terrifying attitudes or partial imitation of offensive weapons.

C. As an Attraction to the Opposite Sex.

Envelope (WCP4379.4627)

Envelope addressed to "E. B. Poulton Esq., Wykeham House, Banbury Road, Oxford", with stamp, postmarked "PARKSTONE | B | JA20 | 90"; postmark on back. [Envelope (WCP4379.4627)]

Please cite as “WCP4379,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP4379