WCP3526

[1]¹

5. Westbourne Grove Terrace, W.

July 28^th 1863

Dear Sir

Being now engaged in naming my birds from the Malay archipelago, I take the liberty to ask some information about a bird described by you as in the "Annals of Nat[ural]. Hist[ory]." for 1845, under the name of Tripsurus auritus.² Mr. Blyth³placed your name as a synonym of Picus moluccensis Gm. in which he was followed by Bonaparte⁴ in his "conspectus".⁵ On referring to [2] your description however I find that you describe the tail as "immaculate" whereas in moluccensis it is plainly white spotted & you do not mention the ^prominent white stripe from the eye to the nape. Your dimensions & the rest of the description exactly agrees with that of the bird now before me from Sumatra & Java which is generally called moluccensis, but I believe is not Gmelin's bird⁶ or that of the Pl. Enl. 748. 2. (a very good figure).⁷ These, which are the true moluccensis represent a bird from the island of Lombock [Lombok] & Flores (& therefore within the region of the Moluccas) considerably larger than the Sumatra bird & with the bill especially nearly one and one half longer [3] just as in Buffon’s figure. It will therefore be necessary to give the western bird a new name, & your "auritus" will stand if it really refers to this bird. You probably have the specimen by you or can inform me where it is to be seen.

I would also take the liberty of asking if you have ^separate copies of the numerous papers you have communicated to the Periodicals and Societies on Eastern Birds, in which case you would much oblige me by furnishing me with a set of them. [4] Trusting you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you on this subject [.]

I remain│Yours very truly │Alfred R. Wallace [signature]