Andrew Smith, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, [South Africa], to Sir James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk], England

Summary

Will do all he can to satisfy Smith with Cape 'Orchideae'. Has a young artist to make painting from live specimens, sending figure of 'Disperis villosa' [extant]. Believes a "very splendid" work could be made from having a painting of every Cape species in full flower, with Smith being sent dried specimens to provide full descriptions from; difficulty of transporting live plants back to England.

Has sent promised papers to Sir Everard Home [(1756-1832), physician] describing new species each of 'Hyaena' and 'Hyrax'; observations on gland secretions of former; hopes Home will send them to Linnean Society and that they will be published in "Linnean Transactions". It is his ambition to produce a good work on zoology of South Africa. Many collectors currently here: 3 from Prussia, 3 from France, and 6 from other European countries. Lists some of the curiosities of his portfolio; he is particularly interested in snakes. Mode natural history is now studied makes it easier to notice habits of animals for classification.

Watercolour of 'Disperis villosa'.

Letter details

Record number

LINNEAN108

From

Sir Andrew Smith

To

Sir James Edward Smith

Date

14 Jan 1827

Sent from

Cape Town, South Africa

Sent to

Norwich, Norfolk

Source of text

GB-110/JES/ADD/91, The Linnean Society of London

Language

English

Contributor

The Linnean Society of London[View Ɛpsilon collection]

Also published in The Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith, The Linnean Society's Archive Catalogue.