DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
Sir, —
A recent addition has been made to the white swans of the Zoological Garden by the further arrival of four of these beautiful birds, which were kindly procured by Mr. Edward Howitt, in London, and disinterestedly shipped, free of expense, by Messrs. Green in their fine vessel, the Result, under the obliging care of Captain Carr, the commander.
Whilst publicly acknowledging the services thus rendered by these gentlemen to this establishment, it is pleasing also to record that in so many directions a friendly desire manifests itself for the introduction of animals either of utility or calculated to become the delight or ornament of our domiciles, and likewise to notice that, with such unabating zeal and so much sacrifice, our patriotic friend Mr. Edward Wilson excites and maintains an interest in these exertions.
Responding to a request of that gentleman to assist in adding the Australian magpie and the laughing-jackass to the domestic birds of Britain, I beg to inform gentlemen inclined to furnish birds for this purpose that I shall gladly arrange for their transmission to Europe.
I am, Sir, yours most obediently,
FERD. MUELLER.
Botanical Gardens, Melbourne,
January 13.1
An advertisement 'Introduction of Australian Birds into Britain' (B60.01.03) signed by M was placed in the same issue of the Argus, p. 8, and repeated almost daily up to March 1861. It emphasised the plan to introduce the Australian Magpie and Laughing Jackass' was Mr Edward Wilson's. Wilson was the proprietor of the Argus.
Letter not found. The text given here is from ' Distribution of animals', Argus, 16 January 1860, p. 5 (B60.01.02).
Please cite as “FVM-60-01-13,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on