WCP2526

[1]

Harvard University

Bussey Institution

Economic Entomology

W. M. Wheeler

C. T. Brues

Genetics

W. E. Castle [Zool.]

E. M. East [Bot.]

Comparative Pathology

Theobald Smith

Forest Hills, Mass

[1 word illeg.] Alfred Russel Wallace.

Dear Sir:

It is very great [presumption] for me to write to you but during my life I have read so much that you have written that it seems that I know you already. Two years ago when I was in Brazil I meat a Rev. Mr. Moss, a clergyman of the Church of England who knew you, and asked him whether it would he [ont‘] of the way and he said it would not and [hue] I have talked about you with with mr. [plenton] and he said that you would not object to a letter.

In 1911 when I graduated from Stanford University, I had the opportunity of going to Brazil with J. G. Branner. We spent three months on the east coast and then I was able to, in company with a companion to go to the river that I always considered as belonging to you and Bates. We went to Manaus and a little way up to Rio Negro, and afterward went up to Rio Madeira about eight hundred miles. All of my times was spent collecting insects, mostly beetles and ants, to the study of the latter of which I am devoting my time. Conditions on the Amazon have changed but little since you wrote the account of your travels there, except for the fine steamboat service. But going up the Madeira we had accommodations somewhat similar to those you found on the Rio Negro. We stayed for months along the mine railsroad that was being built and when they were felling trees along the right of the way, I had the opportunity of collecting in the tree tops, with very good results. Most of my material is in the hands of specialists for study and a great deal of it has proved to be new. Among the ants are many of that have not been found since Bates first to take them, as well as numerous new forms. Seventeen species of Eciton were found. What would interest you is a species of the primitive genus of [Rlopalopone][hitherto] known only from the Indo Malayan region, and another of [/Arectognatus], known before only from [New?] Zealand, both of which are additional evidence of the ancient Antarctic connection with the Australian region.

The last winter I spent four months in Haiti and and as so little collecting had been done there, the results are proving to be of great interest. Two new species of [?Pecipatus] turned out. In the ant collection thirty six forms were undescribed, some of them being primitive species, relicts of the ancient [Antilean form a ?], though a great many are recently developed from other known Central and South American forms.

I have soon to go to Malay Archipelago, and it is my ambition to stay Kuching, just where your house was, and catch and study ants and beetles. Ever since I could read, your works have been an inspiration to me and I am trying in a way to do the same kind of work that you have done, first to get a knowledge of the form and then [sort?] a geographical distribution.

Please pardon my boldness at writing to you. I have written to you in Brazil, in Haiti and Mexico, but each time I have become ashamed and [tour?] up the better but I have just finished the rereading your account of your life and feel as though I know you and will mail this before I change my mind.

Respectfully yours,

[M. Maine?] [signature]