15/3/78.
I have just despatched a Ceratodus to you, dear Dr du Bocage, by the "Excelsior", which ship leaves direct from Port Phillip1 to Hamburg. The fish is adressed to Dr W. Sonder (the celebrated author of South African plants), who for many years has acted there as my honorary Agent. Please put yourself in communication with Dr Sonder (Adr. Neuer Wall), so that the best arrangements may be made to get the specimen safely across. All expenses as far as Hamburg are paid for the transit. I had great difficulty to procure this specimen, and this is a large one.
Simultaneously I have dispatched some dried plants to Dr Gomez, which might be forwarded simultaneously with the Ceratodus from Hamburg to Lisbon.
Trusting that this precious specimen will reach you safely, and that it will afford you an additional object for your learned researches I remain
regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
M.D.
If there is anything else you like me to procure for your studies or Museum, it shall be gladly done, so far as it is in my power.
Please cite as “FVM-78-03-15c,” 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