HOLARCTIC REGION 181 



of things that it should occur on April 15. Don't think 

 for a moment that I despise these inquiries ; very 

 far from it. If our excellent forefathers, whose souls I 

 trust are with the saints, had only made similar observa- 

 tions, we should know more. I only object to arriving 

 at conclusions on very slight evidence.* 



There was, however, one important point about 

 which he had no hesitation in declaring his difference 

 from Wallace, and that was in regard to the latter's 

 Nearctic and Palaearctic Regions. Newton found many 

 reasons for grouping these two, with certain important 

 modifications, into one, which he called the *' Holarctic," 

 and he had the satisfaction later of seeing his views 

 accepted by other biologists. He lost no opportunities 

 of acquiring information about the faunas of debatable 

 regions, more particularly of those oceanic islands, which 

 always had for him the greatest fascination. 



One thing I beseech you to look out for. The amiable 

 land-reformer Wallace makes the Cape Verd Islands 

 " Palaearctic," to the humble disciple who now addresses 

 you they seem to be " Ethiopian." May it be your lot 

 to settle this point, and that you may settle it I pray 

 you not to stick only to birds, delightful and always 

 blessed as they are, but pocket all the shells, glycerine 

 all the beetles, pin all the butterflies and other bugs, 

 and in fact do all you can in the way of collecting down 

 to the " lowest marines." 



After behaving in this fashion the odour of sanctity 

 which clings to your head will be enormously intensified 

 and become a quintessence of sweet savour ; but please 

 to remember I don't care a button whether you prove 

 these islands to be Palaearctic or Ethiopian, I only want 

 to know, the truth, though I admit it would be incon- 

 venient if you were to find they were Neotropical ; but 

 then I can trust you, for you do not seek a reputation 



* Letter to J. A. Harvie-Brown, April 15, 1903. 



