Ɛpsilon

WCP1403

Letter (WCP1403.1182)

[1]

Wykeham House.

Oxford.

Decr. 19. 1903

My Dear Wallace,

Many thanks for the photographs which I have taken to be framed. I am having glass back & front of the smaller one. Thank you warmly for your kind inscription which will be a great stimulus to me. I shall have it before me in my laboratory where [2] all my writing is done.

I enclose a letter from our Prof. of Arabic Prof. Margoliouth1 which shows that the idea of the Aru Is has been suggested but, as he says, I still hope you will publish the idea as an independently occurring interpretation. [3]

Please when you have time let me know about helping F. Birch2 viz. how much to lend him.

With Kindest regards, | yrs sincerely, | E. B. Poulton3 [signature]

1
Margoliouth, David Samuel. (1858-1940). British professor and orientalist.
2
Birch, Frederick ("Fred") (1876-1952). British naturalist and natural history collector. Honorary Secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society.
3
Poulton, Edward Bagnall (1856-1943). British Entomologist. Hope Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Jesus College.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP1403.1182)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Clark, Andrew David [2014-08-01] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2014-08-01] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2024-12-24]

Enclosure (WCP1403.1455)

[1]

88 Woodstock Rd

Oxford

Dec. 19.1903

Dear Dr. Poulton1

Pardon my delay in answering your letter: I was away when it arrived, and have bee<n here> since my return.

The suggestion that the Wak—Wak a Wak islands derive their name from the cry of the Bird, of Paradise and therefore are to be identified with islands in the neighbourhood of New Guinea is to be found in Burton's2 translation B[MS illeg.] 1885 vol viii. p. 60. Burton quotes a private communication from Col. J. W. Watson3 of Bombay: and also W. F. Kirby4 New Arabian [2] Nights' [illeg.]. Swan Sonnenschein Preface p ix: “There is no doubt that by the island of Wak—Wak the Aru Islands near New Guinea are intended for the wonderful fruits which grow there are birds of Paradise, which settle in flocks on the trees at sunrise, uttering this very cry.”

I have no doubt however that a communication from your distinguished correspondent will be welcome to deal will be welcome to scientists –

Yours truly | D. S. Margoliouth5 [signature]

1
Poulton, Edward Bagnall (1856-1943). British Entomologist. Hope Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Jesus College.
2
Burton, Richard Francis (1821-1890). British soldier, explorer and author.
3
Watson has not been identified.
4
Kirby, William Forsell (1844-1912). English entomologist and folklorist. Staff member at British Museum (Natural History) in charge on Lepidoptera.
5
Margoliouth, David Samuel. (1858-1940). British professor and orientalist.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Enclosure (WCP1403.1455)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Clark, Andrew David [2014-08-01] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2024-12-24]

Please cite as “WCP1403,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1403