WCP4533

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

June 10th. 1896

My dear Meldola¹

I am glad to find that I was right in declining to have anything to do with the Mimicry book. My idea of it was similar to yours, but I was not quite sure that I had given time enough to understand the Author’s ideas of the subject which seemed to me so confused.

I write now to say that I am coming to London next Thursday (the 18th.) to read [2] a paper on "The Utility of Specific Characters"² at the Linnean, — & that I will, if convenient, accept your & Mrs. Meldola’s³ often repeated invitation to stay the night with you. Poulton⁴ wrote me that he will come to help in the discussion, & will stay with you also, as he says you have two spare rooms. I hope [3] Thiselton Dyer⁵ will also come, as I know he agrees generally with my views, but there will I have no doubt be plenty against them. I hope you will be disengaged that Evening.

I see by the last Essex Field Club Report, that you are now quite satisfied with the treatment of Essex forest. It seems to me however that the mere [4] fact that quantities of crowded & unsightly pollards still remain, after 15 years continuous work, is the complete condemnation of the ^past management. All these might have been duly thinned in the first 5 years or less. This, & fresh planting of the useless bare tracks (not it seems done yet) were the first things to have been done.

Yours very truly| A.R.W.