WCP5626

[1] [p. 49]

TO THEO. D. A. COCKERELL

Parkstone, Dorset.

March 10, 1891.

Dear Mr. Cockerell, —...

Your theory to account for the influence of a first male on progeny by a second seems very probable — and in fact if, as I suppose, spermatozoa often enter ova without producing complete fertilisation, it must be so. That would be easily experimented on, with fowls, dogs, etc., but I do not remember the fact having been observed except with horses. It ought to be common, when females have young by successive males. —

Yours faithfully,

A. R. WALLACE.