1871.3 MR. WALLACE'S REVIEW. 317 



sufficient clearness ; I am sure that I have not expressed it 

 too strongly."] 



C. Darwin to A. R. Wallace. 



Down, March 16, 1871. 



MY DEAR WALLACE, I have just read your grand re- 

 view.* It is in every way as kindly expressed towards my- 

 self as it is excellent in matter. The Lyells have been here, 

 and Sir C. remarked that no one wrote such good scientific 

 reviews as you, and as Miss Buckley added, you delight in 

 picking out all that is good, though very far from blind to 

 the bad. In all this I most entirely agree. I shall always 

 consider your review as a great honour ; and however much 

 my book may hereafter be abused, as no doubt it will be, 

 your review will console me, notwithstanding that we differ 

 so greatly. I will keep your objections to my views in my 

 mind, but I fear that the latter are almost stereotyped in my 

 mind. I thought for long weeks about the inheritance and 

 selection difficulty, and covered quires of paper with notes in 

 trying to get out of it, but could not, though clearly seeing 

 that it would be a great relief if I could. I will confine my- 

 self to two or three remarks. I have been much impressed 

 with what you urge against colour f in the case of insects, 

 having been acquired through sexual selection. I always 

 saw that the evidence was very weak ; 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 argu- 

 ment with respect to the denudation of mankind and also to 

 insects, that taste on the part of one sex would have to re- 



* Academy, March 15, 1871. 



f Mr. Wallace says that the pairing of butterflies is probably deter- 

 mined by the fact that one male is stronger-winged, or more pertinacious 

 than the rest, rather than by the choice of the females. He quotes the 

 case of caterpillars which are brightly coloured and yet sexless. Mr. Wai- 

 lace also makes the good criticism that the ' Descent of Man ' consists of 

 two books mixed together. 



