WCP4419

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

Nov[embe]^r. 27^th. 1903

My dear Poulton

The Plates to which you refer are indeed very beautiful & wonderful, and add another to the numerous proofs of the extreme severity of the struggle to maintain existence, which is the key to so many of the problems of nature, but which many biologists even, entirely overlook. But cases of this kind, though exceedingly instructive, are comparatively exceptional, & have not the same fascination for me as those permanent modifications of form and [2] colour, or of structure, which are universally present, and which reach their maximum of interest in protective form & colour, and especially in cases of mimicry. Hence your description in the "Proceedings" (at end of same Part), of your observations on the c. album¹ butterfly are far more interesting to me, because they show us how nature as it were — refi "gilds refined gold" and "paints the lily" by the simple processes of variation & natural selection, so long as a "species is subject to more than an average amount of danger from enemies". One would think that the imitation of a leaf in [3] form, colour, & markings, would be sufficient, & that the further refinement of imitative holes would not be needed. But this also shows us two things — (1) how acute is the vision of insectivorous birds, who notice these apparent holes, (sometimes) — and (2) how necessary it is for them not to waste time in too close observation or in actually seizing leaves in mistake for butterflies, & thus perhaps losing the changce of a sufficient meal. Hence they decide rapidly by a passing glance, and in doubtful cases their decision is determined by the little hole! This little point alone w[oul]d make a good subject for a lecture! Fred Birch is getting on with all [4]² arrangements & enquiries. He has a partial promise of suitable employment at one of the mines, and is waiting a decisive reply which will probably reach him in a few weeks, when he will make his final arrangements & will go up to London to visit museums, then to Oxford, & to me.

I will let you know as soon as it is decided when he goes.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

^{He will go even if he does} not ^{get the employment in advance.3}