252 THE SPKEAD OF EVOLUTION. [Ch. XTV. 



admirable papers I ever read in my life. The mimetic cases 

 are truly marvellous, and you connect excellently a host of 

 analogous facts. The illustrations are beautiful, and seem very 

 well chosen ; but it would have saved the reader not a little 

 trouble, if the name of each had been engraved below each 

 separate figure. No doubt this would have put the engraver 

 into fits, as it would have destroyed the beauty of the plate. I 

 am not at all surprised at such a paper having consumed much 

 time. I am rejoiced that I passed over the whole subject in the 

 Origin, for I should have made a precious mess of it. You have 

 most clearly stated and solved a wonderful problem. No 

 doubt with most people this will be the cream of the paper ; but 

 I am not sure that all your facts and reasonings on variation, and 

 on the segregation of complete and semi- complete species, is not 

 really more, or at least as valuable a part. I never conceived 

 the process nearly so clearly before ; one feels present at the 

 creation of new forms. I wish, however, you had enlarged a 

 little more on the pairing of similar varieties ; a rather more 

 numerous body of facts seems here wanted. Then, again, what 

 a host of curious miscellaneous observations there are — as on 

 related sexual and individual variability : these will some day, 

 if I live, be a treasure to me. 



With respect to mimetic resemblance being so common with 

 insects, do you not think it may be connected with their small 

 size ; they cannot defend themselves ; they cannot escape by 

 flight, at least, from birds, therefore they escape by trickery and 

 deception ? 



I have one serious criticism to make, and that is about the 

 title of the paper ; I cannot but think that you ought to have 

 called prominent attention in it to the mimetic resemblances. 

 Your paper is too good to be largely appreciated by the mob of 

 naturalists without souls; but, rely on it, that it will have lasting 

 value, and I cordially congratulate you on your first great work. 

 You will find, I should think, that Wallace will appreciate it. 

 How gets on your book ? Keep your spirits up. A book is no 



variation, whilst others he must look at as separately created under their 

 present guise ; he will further have to admit that some have been created 

 in imitation of forms not themselves created as we now see them, but due 

 to the laws of variation I Professor Agassiz, indeed, would think nothing 

 of this difficulty ; for he believes that not only each species and each 

 variety, but that groups of individuals, though identically the same, 

 when inhabiting distinct countries, have been all separately created in 

 due proportional numbers to the wants of each land. Not many 

 naturalists will be content thus to believe that varieties and individuals 

 have been turned out all ready made, almost as a manufacturer turns out 

 toys according to the temporary demand of the market." 



