84 LS.C. Proceedings of the Ninth (N.S., XVIII, 
interest in the Shakespeare-Bacon controversy than I did in 
Icelandic politics, but wished to impress the foreigner. You 
may apply this parable to zoology as you like. 
recent years zoological controversy, like most other 
branches of criticism, has grown more refined. but we are still 
far from the urbane irony which an American critic regards as 
one of the highest manifestations of the literary spirit in 
modern England. Courtesy is apt to degenerate into irrespon- 
sible and often irrelevant insinuation, such as that of an anti- 
Indian spirit in this country, or of slackness in war in Europe. 
case of a young man who brought to a friend of mine a paper 
in which far-reaching conclusions were derived from somewhat 
meagre research. My friend pointed out that the evidence 
hardly justified the conclusions. ‘‘Oh’’, said the author 
‘but I can change the conclusions! ”’ 
n the other hand, it is quite unnecessary to call a mana 
liar because you disagree with him on some controversial point, 
or even on some matter of observation. All men cannot think, 
or even see, alike, and because a man is senior to one’s self, or 
teristic of the Malay race—and enquired if this could be true 
“ Doubtless, T'uan,”’ was the reply, ‘“‘but perhaps he ye 
i r 
courteous ; no offence was caused, and the bargain was con- 
eluded in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. 
feelings of the 
and fee 
but 
seems to me a good one. Some years ago I published @ ae 
in the Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in which 
