WCP2288

[1]

Chislehurst.

Aug^t 12. 1872

Dear Mr. Wallace,

I am much obliged for yr note¹ & quite agree with you that my paper² would have been more complete if I had added tables showing the presence & absence of Moluccan genera. Perhaps I may find an opportunity of doing so yet. With regard to living Javan and Bornean genera present & absent, my difficulty would be that no complete list of species from either island has been [illeg.] and although I have a fair knowledge of what genera [2] do inhabit those islands, yet it is far from perfect. In fact we want Catalogues for all the great Ind. Malay islands. & I have begun to attack Borneo & am on a list of Philippine birds.

= I have just received from Marudi in Borneo examples of Argus grayi, Elliot³ – it is a good species, quite distinct from the common Argus & this settles the doubt about its habitat.

= I have also received a fine [3] series of Barita gymnocephala Tem., from Marudi — If not trespassing on yr time would you kindly tell me what you know of its habits and what you think of its affinities? Whatever you write I will introduce in my remarks on the species. I have written out for specimens in spirits.

= The Bornean small Spilornis is a good and distinct species.

= I enjoyed yr castigation⁴ of Dr Bree⁵ "Fools [4] rush in. etc " as much in Science as in every other pursuit.

Believe me | Yrs. very tru[l]y | Walden⁶ [signature]

There is a bad misprint in my Celebean paper which you may perhaps think is worth while to correct on the margin. At page 115, line 11 please to read

"a diminutive form of C. monticolus, Frank"

W.