WCP4531

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Dec^r. 31st. 1895

My dear Meldola¹

I am glad you are going to stir up the Entomologists with some general principles. I do not think species-describing is of any special use to the philosophical generaliser, but I do think the collecting, naming, & classifying, some extensive group of organisms is of great use, is, in fact, almost essential to any thorough grasp of the whole subject of the Evolution of species through variation & nat. selection –

I had described nothing when I wrote my papers on variation &c. [2] (except a few fishes & palms from the Amazon) but I had collected, & made out species, very largely, & had seen, to some extent, how curiously ^{useful &} protective their forms & colours often were, & all this was of great use to me. I think the errors (as I consider them) of Galton² & Bateson,³ are ^{to a great extent} due to a want of such training.

I hope you are not killing yourself with overwork. I am fairly well. I had a delightful trip to Switzerland in the summer with Mr. Mitten,⁴ & we spent 10 continuous days of fine weather among the high [3] Alps collecting flowers & observing the effects of ice-action.

Will⁵ was out of his time with Mess^r. Holmes last July, but they have kept him on, & he has been now almost a year in Scotland, the last 6 months superintending the fitting up of electric lights in houses & ships. He seems very well & to thoroughly enjoy his work. I hope they will keep him on another year so that he may I get experience & confidence.

Remember me to Poulton,⁶ & with best wishes for the New Year

Believe me| yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Poor Riley’s⁷ death – in the prime of life — & just as he had given up official work in order to devote himself to research, was very sad.⁸