WCP4400

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

March 8^th. 1896

My dear Poulton

I have just been reading with great interest your notice of Romanes’ "Post Darwinian Questions". As I see that he criticises me very fully, & in particular that he discusses again the question of the utility ^{— or as he says} inutility ^— of specific characters, I should like to see the book. Perhaps therefore you would kindly lend it me for a week or two & I will return it, as I should like [2] to write a short statement of the grounds on which I believe "all specific characters" to be or once to have been useful. The more I consider the subject the more convinced I am of the fundamental truth of this position.

I rather wonder, as I am so much discussed in the volume, that Mrs. Romanes did not order a copy to be sent to me.

[3] I have just sent off to the Editor of "Nature" a review of Cope’s new book, which, though full of facts, is about as illogical and as full of astounding ^omissions, misconceptions & misstatements as any book by a biologist, I have ever seen. With it I review Archdall Reid’s book The Present Evolution of Man, which is very clever & well worth reading.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Prof. E.B. Poulton