WCP7270

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

August 5th. 1901

Dear Mr. Beeby¹

Many thanks for your letter & advice. I will at once write to Mess^rs Groves.^2,3 Mr. Bennett⁴ referred me to your paper,⁵ which I already had, & spoke very highly of your opinion, but did not say how far or in what particular cases, he accepted it as conclusive.

My difficulty is this: you rarely speak positively.

For example – I should at once accept such an experiment as you refer to in the case of Anthyllis bul.. var ovata. I should also accept your experiment in the previous plant Cerastium arct[icum]. var Edmonstonii [2] if you had not used the word “chiefly” – you have disposed of the colour, but what about the other characters admitted by that word? If they are constant, however small, the plant may be an endemic var.

In many cases you use the expression, that, “till further evidence is given” or till such a comparison is made”, you would hesitate to accept the var. or form as “endemic”. This is perfectly sound & reasonable, if it were a question of plants held to be “proved to be endemic”, – but my list⁶ is only of plants “supposed” to be endemic on some evidence, or in the opinion of [3] some fairly competent botanist; and in ^criticising such a list, I hold that the burden of proof rests with the other side – that is, theyat it ^is best for them to remain in the “reputed endemic” list till they are proved to be not endemic.

My lists of “reputed” endemic plants and animals are merely for the purpose of calling attention to the admitted fact that there are some differences – specific or varietal – between the fauna & flora of our islands & the continent; and I am rather disappointed that during the last ten years so little has been done to settle, either by experiment or by exhaustive comparison of British & Cont[inenta]^l examples [4] the numerous cases of such differences given in my earlier lists.

However, when I have the conclusions of Mess^rs Groves, & the further remarks of A. Bennett I shall be in a better position to decide[.]

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

Wm H. Beeby Esq.

P.S. I shall also probably refer to Mr E. F. Linton.⁷ The inconvenience of omitting a reputed Brit. endemic form on any but the best evidence is well shown by the moth referred to at p. 350 which on the authority of Zeller,⁸ the greatest cont<inenta>^l authority, was omitted. Now I hear that Zeller has acknowledged he was wrong, & must insert it in my list!