New-York tribune., 1901-05-04
ALFRED russell WALLACE.
A COLLECTION OF THE SCIENTISTS MIS-
CELLANEOUS WRITINGS

STUDIES SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL, BY Alfred
kusSSl Wallace. LII ID, d. G L.. F. R s.. etc.
~ iio, I"9 ho!umes. WlIa IN Numerous LIIustra-
milan Company.
Like Lords Kelvin and Lister both of whom
are his juniors. Alfred Russell Wallace has en-
joyed a period of existence and activity much
longer than that allotted to man by the Script
ureS. His researches and writings extend over
period OF fully half a century. The range of
his study has been wider than that of some
scientific Of equal fame: hence the fifty
two papers which here collected deal with
4 considerable variety of topics. and as might
be expected. not OF uniform value and in
terest. Wallace has been dstinctvely a nat
uralist Moreover, expounder of the doc
trine of evolution. he ranks with Huxley and
Herbert Spencer-not, of course, with Darwin.
Nevertheless, Darwin and Wallace appear to
have hit upon the principle of natural selection
independently of each other and almost simul-
taneously. The five articles evolution which
republished were prepared for various
periodicals between 1880 and 1896. The heat Of
controversy had then practically disappeared
and much more information was available than
was at Darwin's disposal These papers, there
fore. constitute modern statement OF the sub
ject. and a mastery and authoritative state
ment well.
what Darwin did not attempt TO do He did
not try to account for the beginnings OF life
any than for the beginnings of matter
He merely indicated how life acted after it's
first appearance on the earth. The essential
propositions OF the evolution philosophy
these: What are now different but allied species
had common ancestry; the earlier types OF
animals were fewer in number more simple in
organization and more general in their forms
than the later ones: life became more diverse,
more complicated and more abundant time
went on; and in the struggle for existence
which at length took place some species sur
vived while others extngushed. nature
conducting a wedding out process on the basis
of adaptabty to environment. AS Spencer
put 1t. there survival OF the ittest"
The fundamental fact to which Darwin. Wal
lace and their disciples direct attention is that
all forms of life show a tendency toward varia-
tion from the parental pattern. Heredity is one
OF the most potent of natural laws, but 1t does
not insure absolpte fxity and stability of type.
In structure, appearance or other traits all
animals and plants show remarkable disposi-
ton TO depart more less from established
precedent. Even Button insisted that nature
was in a state of nux. The proposition has
been hotly disputed. but the evidence is
whelmingly in its favor. The more extensive
insects. trees and shrubs the more obvious it
becomes that with little changes OF environ
ment and often without any apparent explana-
tion ALL individuals and groups of creatures
show surprising notifications Of color, size.
form other characteristics compared with
their parents. What causes variation is yet
mystery; but variation itself, splitting up of
species into new ones, is one OF the most patent
phenomena of biology. This disposition being
once recognized, it is easy to understand that
kinds of animals which distinct but
resemble each other dixie cats and tigers hawks
and eagles or men and Monkeys, may have
had a common origin. Wallace says however
that 1t is much easier to establish this law in
respect to the species of one genus or the
genera of a single family than as applied TO the
broader groups and orders. We can actually
the performance in the former instance.
In the latter can only infer.
Among the causes Of variation which have
been suggested is the possibility that certain
characteristics Of a pair of animals which are
not derived from their parents, but are ac-
quired during their own lifetime, may be trans
mitted to their offspring In other words, 1t
has been thought that uninherited intellectual
gifts. mechanical skill or strength. keenness of
vision changes of complexion, might be passed
along to the next generation. Although Darwin
gave this matter special study and laid no
stress upon il, he believed that such process
operated. Herbert Spencer has committed him
self still more strongly to that opinion Weiss
mann. however. denies the possibility Wallace
makes formidable argument against It. Just
now, therefore, the question is an open one
comparison of types OF animal life in diff
ferent parts of the world fascinating task
TO even the biologists of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. But the pursuit assumes
new and immense Importance from the proba-
bility that these various types had a common
parentage and consequently related to one
another. Interesting questions of time. method
and dominating influence are thus excited. Wal
lace has studied them with acuteness and en-
thusiasm. He holds that when closely allied
species widely separated geographically
one must not conclude that they did not have
common origin. His articles treating OF mon
keys and their afilnities the protective dis
guises OF insects and the problem of instinct
are exceedingly instructive. His emphatic af-
hrmative answer TO the question whether white
men can live and work in a tropical climate
ana his consideration OF the derivation OF the
folynesian and native Australian races (whi-h
he regards as offshoots of the Caucasian stockl
VIII interest Americans much more now than
before the battle OF Manila
Points OF difference between the forests and
MOWERS OF Europe and North America are dis