WCP3523

[1]

Old Orchard

Broadstone

Wimborne

Dec[embe]^r. 13th 1909

My dear Sclater

I have been trying for a whole year, to get from Sharpe 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 [one word illegible] 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.[ritish] 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]