On the Variation of Species with Especial Reference to the Insecta: Followed by an Inquiry into the Nature of Genera.

WOLLASTON, T. Vernon. London: John van Voorst, 1856. VI, 1, 1, 206,1 pp. Original cloth. "Wollaston dedicated his book "To Charles Darwin, Esq., M.A., V.P.R.S. whose researches, in various parts of the world, have added so much to our knowledge of Zoological geography, this short Treatise is dedicated." On June 6, 1856, Darwin wrote to Wollaston: "With respect to your Book, I may say that all which I have read has been most interesting . . . & several of your facts & views have already given me quite devilish puzzles, which you ought to take as a compliment. . . . I have heard Unitarianism called a feather-bed to catch a falling Christian; & I think you are now on just such a feather bed, but I believe you will fall much lower & lower. Do you not feel that "your little exceptions" are getting pretty numerous? It is a funny argument of yours that I (& other horrid wretches like me) may be right, because we are in a very poor minority. anyhow it is a comfort to believe that some others will soon be with me" (The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Volume 6, pp. 134-35). However Darwin's hope and expectation that Wollaston would become an evolutionist was not fulfilled. Wollaston's review of the first edition of the Origin in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History was very negative. The review was published anonymously, but Lyell and Darwin correctly inferred Wollaston wrote it. Proveniens: John Eriksson ( Albatross).…