Custom House
Rockhampton1
5th March 1879
Dear Baron
About a fortnight ago I received your letter of the 3rd January2 asking me if I could procure a specimen of an alligator for a friend of yours in Germany — I heard of two in Town, so I got a friend who is a judge to look at them for me — He approved of one as a good specimen 9 ft 6 Inches long for which £10 was wanted. After some haggling I induced the owner to reduce the price to £8 when I immediately afterwards sent you a telegram about it. You replied and said you thought £5 was enough for it.3
I really think this specimen is cheap at £8 when you consider the trouble there is in getting alligators and the trouble and expense to prepare them.
The fishermen say they want £30 for a specimen over 20 feet in length – for one 25 feet long they want £35 You might get one cheaper further North say at Townsville or Cooktown, but you may have a long time to wait before you can get one.4
I will write to Fitzallen who is I believe still at Bowen
Hoping you are enjoying good health
I remain Dear Baron
Yours truly
Kilner
Baron Mueller
Melbourne
Please cite as “FVM-79-03-05,” 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