Characteristics 



America and was getting his first glimpse of the tropical 

 forest. What discoveries he might make ! What joy he 

 must have on seeing the things described in the letter, such 

 things as Dr. Wallace himself had seen in Brazil so long 

 ago! " 



Wallace's critical faculty was always keen and vigilant. 

 Unlike some critics, however, he relished genuine and 

 well-informed criticism of his own writings. Flattery he 

 despised; whilst the charge of dishonesty aroused strongest 

 resentment. Deceived he might be, but he required clear 

 proof that his own eyes and ears had led him astray. 

 Eomanes, who had propounded the forgotten theory of 

 physiological selection, charged Wallace with adopting it 

 as his own. This was Hot only untrue, it was ridiculous ; 

 and Wallace, after telling him so and receiving no apology, 

 dropped him out of his recognition. During Romanes' ill- 

 ness Mr. Thiselton-Dyer wrote to Wallace and sought to 

 bring about a reconciliation, and Wallace replied : 



ParkstoTie, Dorset. September 26, 1893. 



My dear Thiselton-Dyer, — I am sorry to hear of Eomanes' 

 illness, because I think he would have done much good work 

 in carrying out experiments which require the leisure, means 

 and knowledge which he possesses. I cannot, however, at 

 all understand his wishing to have any communication from 

 myself. I do not think I ever met Romanes in private more 

 than once, when he called on me more than twenty years 

 ago about some curious psychical phenomena occurring in 

 his own family; and perhaps half a dozen letters — if so 

 many — may have passed between us since. There is there- 

 fore no question of personal friendship disturbed. I con- 

 sider, however, that he made a very gross misstatement and 

 personal attack on me when he stated, both in English and 

 American periodicals, that in my " Darwinism " I adopted 

 his theory of '' physiological selection " and claimed it as my 



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