116 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES I88I- 



seotion, which is printed to-day. I thought it fair to 

 bear my share of the abuse poured in so atrocious a 

 manner on all physiologists. 



From G. J. Momanes to G. Darwin, Esq. 



18 Cornwall Terrace : April 22. 



I have left your last letter so long unanswered in 

 order that I might be able to let you know the result 

 of the next experiment I was trying on the seeds with 

 flashing light. I think in the end the conclusion 

 will be that short flashes, such as I am now using, 

 influence the seedlings, but only to a comparatively 

 small degree, so that it is only the more sensitive 

 seedlings that perceive them. 



Your letter in the ' Times ' was in every way 

 admirable, and coming from you will produce more 

 effect than it could from anybody else. The answer 

 to-day to is also first-rate — ^just enough with- 

 out being too much. It would have been a great 

 mistake to have descended into a controversy. I 



thought had more wit than to adopt such a 



tack and tone, and am sure that all physiologists will 

 be for ever grateful to you for such a trenchant 

 expression of opinion. 



I have a little piece of gossip to tell. Yesterday 

 the Council of the Linnean nominated me Zoological 

 Secretary, and some of the members having pressed 

 me to accept, I have accepted. I also hear that your 

 son is to be on the same Council, and that Sir 

 John Lubbock is to be the new President. 



I have at length decided on the arrangement of 

 my material for the books on Animal Intelligence 



