84 IS.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. 
In 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- 
hardly justified the conclusions. 
“but I can change the conclusions! ”’ 
On 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 
belongs to a different race, he is not necessarily wrong. If 
a sense of 
the majority of zoologists were endowed with ) 
humour (which, after all, as Thackeray has pointed out, 18 
essentially the same thing as a sense of proportion) much 
controversy would be avoided altogether, the real point at 
issue not being any point of fact or even of interpretation 
but merely some personal fad, jealousy or spite. 1 was once 
buying some sleeping-mats in the Malay State of Kelantan. 
The man who had brought them for sale stated that it 
j turned 
ut 
“Doubtless, Tuan,’ was the reply, “but perhaps he only 
worked one day in each month.’ The retort was @ retort 
courteous ; no offence was caused, and the bargain was con- 
cluded in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. 
_ The true test in all controversy is the inner feelings of the 
disputants. So long as a man respects his opponent and feels 
no bitterness towards him, controversy is a good thing ; but 
in scientific controversy there must be no reservations, no 
— We must play with all our cards on the table. 
p : 4 
years ago I pableee Beh 
