From Albert Günther   14 May 1872

My dear Sir

I have been so busy this morning, that I was obliged to defer my letter to you till I came home. The morning’s business commenced with Mr. Smith informing me, that being 66 years of age, he would not become a candidate.¹ This act of Mr. Smith’s is all the more creditable, as it is entirely spontaneous. When I told Owen of it, he took off his cap in admiration of this act of unselfishness.²

On the other hand, I heard that Salvin was actually applying for the Assistant-keepership, and not for the charge of the ornitholog. collection only. I certainly did not think that he would attempt to deprive men of their reward for many years hard service; he might have been justified, if he had special qualifications for this post, which we old servants do not possess.³ But having known Mr. Salvin for many years, I could not say that his general zoological knowledge is superior to that of Mr. Smith or my own.

D^r. Gray asked me, then, this morning formally, to make my application to the Trustees.⁴ I shall have the cordial cooperation of Owen & Gray, & therefore, I am not afraid of the issue, if I can get those Testimonials I mentioned to you before.⁵ The Trustees will be informed of the work I have done in the Museum, by the official reports of my superiors; and those testimonials (which are always required in filling up an officer’s post) are required to show to the Trustees, that I am not merely a Specialist (which would disqualify me for the post), but that the merit which may be in my special work, is the consequence of a good general zoological education and knowledge. This is probably better known abroad, where I published a handbook of Zoology,⁶ & other papers on various subjects. Beside yourself & Sharpey, I intend to write to Kölliker, Troschel, van Beneden, Steenstrup and Reinhardt.⁷ I think your Testimonial will give the Trustees what they require.⁸

Tapaya is a synonym of Phrynosoma, and douglasii and cornutum are two species of the same genus.⁹ The proper spelling is

Phrynosoma (or Tapaya) douglasii

Phrynosoma cornutum

I will write again when my case enters into a new stage

Yours very sincerely | A Günther