138 'DESCENT OF MAN' — EXPRESSION. [1871. 



through sexual selection. I always saw that the evidence 

 was very w r eak ; but I still think, if it be admitted that the 

 musical instruments of insects have been gained through 

 sexual selection, that there is not the least improbability in 

 colour having been thus gained. Your argument with respect 

 to the denudation of mankind and also to insects, that taste 

 on the part of one sex would have to remain nearly the same 

 during many generations, in order that sexual selection should 

 produce any effect, I agree to ; and I think this argument 

 would be sound if used by one who denied that, for instance, 

 the plumes of birds of Paradise had been so gained. I believe 

 you admit this, and if so I do not see how your argument 

 applies in other cases. I have recognised for some short time 

 that I have made a great omission in not having discussed, as 

 far as I could, the acquisition of taste, its inherited nature, 

 and its permanence within pretty close limits for long periods. 



[With regard to the success of the ' Descent of Man/ I 

 quote from a letter to Professor Ray Lankester (March 22, 



1871):- 



" I think you will be glad to hear, as a proof of the in- 

 creasing liberality of England, that my book has sold wonder- 

 fully .... and as yet no abuse (though some, no doubt, will 

 come, strong enough), and only contempt even in the poor 

 old Athenaeum? 



As to reviews that struck him he wrote to Mr. Wallace 

 (March 24, 1871) : — 



" There is a very striking second article on my book in the 

 Pall Mall, The articles in the Spectator * have also interested 

 me much." 



* Spectator, March 11 and 18, tains a good discussion of the 



1 87 1 . With regard to the evolution bearing of the book on the question 



of conscience the reviewer thinks of design, and concludes by finding 



that my father comes much nearer in it a vindication of Theism more 



to the " kernel of the psychological wonderful than that in Paley's 



problem " than many of his prede- ' Natural Theology.' 

 cessors. The second article con- 



