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Natural history illustration

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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Abbot Handerson Thayer

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Abbot Handerson Thayer

Theodore Roosevelt grants Abbott Handerson Thayer permission to use a picture and expresses his strong disagreement with Thayer’s theory that all animal coloration serves as camouflage. Roosevelt urges Thayer to recognize the complexity of natural coloration and avoid forcing all examples into a single theory. He praises Thayer’s artistic talent and love of nature but warns that his refusal to acknowledge alternative explanations diminishes the scientific value of his work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-08