WCP3523

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Dec^r. 13^th. 1909

My dear Sclater¹

I have been trying for a whole year, to get from Sharpe² the total number of species Birds now known, and the numbers in each Zoological Region. About a month or 6 week ago, I got the total number, but despair of getting the numbers for the Regions. If you should have these numbers made up [2] for your own use, or know of any book or paper where they are, or have been, given will you kindly send me them ^{or a reference.} If made up even to 10 or 12 years ago, it will do for me, as I want the comparative numbers. If not available, then please send me the figure for the "Neotropical Region", which having been your special life-study I feel sure you [3] must have.

What a great pity it is that they have not, at the B. Museum, kept up sets of Card Lists of every species of animal (named or unnamed) in the collections with all localities, so that they could be kept in geographical sets — and easily sorted out for any continent, island or country, as required. Such "Card-lists" can easily be kept up to date, would cost very little, and would be invaluable for private students.

Yours very truly, | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]