Alfred Russel Wallace 



epochs, the work contained a fuller statement of the various 

 kinds of evidence proving that the great oceanic basins are 

 permanent features of the earth's surface, than had before 

 been given ; also a discussion of the mode of estimating the 

 duration of geological periods, and some considerations lead- 

 ing to the conclusion that organic change is now less rapid 

 than the average, and therefore that less time is required 

 for this change than has hitherto been thought necessary. I 

 was also, I believe, the first to point out the great difference 

 between the more ancient continental islands and those of 

 more recent origin, with the interesting conclusions as to 

 geographical changes afforded by both; while the most 

 important novelty is the theory by which I explained the 

 occurrence of northern groups of plants in all parts of 

 the southern hemisphere — a phenomenon which Sir Joseph 

 Hooker had pointed out, but had then no means of ex- 

 plaining/ 



In 1878 Wallace wrote a volume on Australasia for Stan- 

 ford's '' Compendium of Geography and Travel." A later 

 edition was published in 1893, which contained in addition 

 to the physical geography, natural history, and geology of 

 Australia, a much fuller account of the natives of Australia, 

 showing that they are really a primitive type of the great 

 Caucasian family of mankind, and are by no means so low 

 in intellect as had been usually believed. This view has since 

 been widely accepted. 



Having, towards the close of 1885, received an invita- 

 tion from the Lowell Institute, Boston, U.S.A., to deliver 

 a course of lectures in the autumn and winter of 1886, 

 Wallace decided upon a series which would embody those 

 theories of evolution with which he was most familiar, 

 with a special one on " The Darwinian Theory " illus- 

 trated by a set of original diagrams on variation. These 

 lectures eventually became merged into the well-known 

 book entitled " Darwinism." 



» " My Life," iJ. 99-101. 

 14 



