The first five chapters you need not read, as they contain
nothing fresh to you, but are necessary to make the work complete in
itself. The next five chapters, however (VII. to X.), I think, will
interest you. As I _think_, in Chapters VIII. and IX. I have found the
true explanation of geological climates, and on this I shall be very
glad of your candid opinion, as it is the very foundation-stone of the
book. The rest will not contain much that is fresh to you, except the
three chapters on New Zealand. Sir Joseph Hooker thinks my theory of
the Australian and New Zealand floras a decided advance on anything that
has been done before.
In connection with this, the chapter on the Azores should be read.
Chap. XVI. on the British Fauna may also interest you.
I mention these points merely that you may not trouble yourself to read
the whole book, unless you like.
Hoping that you are well, believe me yours very faithfully,
ALFRED R. WALLACE.
* * * * *
_Down, Beckenham, Kent. November 3, 1880._
My dear Wallace,--I have now read your book,[113] and it has interested me
deeply.
Pages:
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474