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Show moreWallace writes to Allen about the color vision theory that was put forth in Allen's recent book ('The colour-sense: its origin and development; an essay in comparitive psychology', London 1879), which Wallace has just read. Transcription: "Waldron Sage, Duppas Hill, [Grogdan?] Feb. 17th. 1879 Dear Sir Very many thanks for your book on "The Colour []". I have just finished reading it through + I have seldom read a book with more pleasure. It is full of original and suggestive matter, and is admirable in its clearness and the thorough manner in which many aspects of the subjects are discussed. Of course I totally dissent from your adoption of "sexual selection" as a vera causa though of course you are quite justified in following Darwin rather than we as an authority. I think you [] many parts of your argument especially the connection of bright colours in animals with the colours of the food. I also think you lay far too great stress on our knowledge of the first appearance of certain groups of plants + insects, but I shall probably deal with these questions in a [] I may write of your book. I must say I do not see the least force in what you say on the probably identity of colour sense in ourselves + which. For it is clear that the optical [] of these two, have been developed separately, and if the causations were alike it would be a coincidence which we have no reason to expect. The fact that insects differentiate most of the contrasted colours, by us means [] a [] afford any probability, that their causations are any thing like ours, and I still maintain that the probability is they are unlike. With birds + ourselves, on the contrary, we may be almost sure the causations are similar, because our eyes + nervous systems are derived probably from a common ancestor who had both well fairly developed. A day or two ago I received from a gentleman reading in Germany a very clever article on the "Origins of the Colour Sense", in which he shows physiological grounds for the belief in the great inferiority of the colour sense in all mammals, + the inferiority even of ourshelves + birds. I am trying to get it publised w/ one of the Reviews. I am very sorry you did not put a good index to your book. It is most difficult to find any special point you want + causes endless trouble. I feel so strongly on this that I think the publication of indexless books should be felony without benefit of []! I will not wish your book success, for it is sure to be successful, as it well deserves to be. Believe me. yours very faithfully Alfred R. Wallace. Grant Allen Esq. P.S. In my original paper in [Macmillains Mags??] I spoke doubtfully about the [] work of colour sense because the subject came upon me suddenly just as I had finished my paper. I still think however that colour blindness is an indication of imperfection, + I hope evidence will soon be obtained as to its equal prevalence or absence in some civilized rave. I doubt its being a product of civilization, since civilized man makes more uses of colour than savage man. It is an interesting and important question. A.R.W." Letter, signed by sender. Written from Waldron Edge, Duppus Hill, Croydan.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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