Parkstone, Dorset.
April 7th. 1891
My dear Meldola
I don’t wonder at your inability to make out what Romanes is driving at. The only point of importance that I could see is his assumption that all simple variations are "absolutely useless"! and that variations can only be useful when many kinds that are coordinated in action arise together. I think it would be well to point out the [2] extreme improbability of this assumption. I believe, & have always urged, that under all average conditions each successful or dominant species has such a surplus of vitality and of adaptability that it can utilise any one variation in slight excess of the mean condition. Moreover several coordinated variations do occur together, — as when an individual is generally stronger, or bigger [3] or swifter, than the average, — and the fact that breeders easily improve animals shows that — — either, such coordinated variations occur or, that they may be selected successively.
I have not been in London since last summer, and have been occupied with builders the last 6 months enlarging & improving our little house, — which is now just completed. If you come "touring" anywhere in this [4]1 neighbourhood pray come & see us. With kind remembrances to your mother & wife, & to Mr. & Mrs. Cohen,
Believe me| Yours very faithfully| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP4518.4825)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP4518,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP4518