Old Orchard,
Broadstone,
Wimborne.
Dec[embe]r 22nd 1909
Dr E. J. G. Hartert
Dear Dr Hartert
About 11 years ago I think you gave me 900, as being the probable total of known Papuane Birds. Can you without much trouble, give me the approximate number now known? I should like to have the number for New Guinea alone, or with Aru & Mysol, and Waigion, but not with the Islands East of New Guinea.
Also, if you can give me the latest estimate of the Birds of Australia and those of the Phillippines, as I [2] have no means here of getting at those figures, which I want for a book I have in hand.
Do not trouble about minute accuracy, as any estimate within the last 4-5 years will answer my purpose.
I should like however to know whether the numbers include all the sub-species & local forms, &c. as in Sharpe's Hand List1, — or the more restricted "Species"2 as in Selater's works.
I had a bad eye inflamation this summer which stopped [3] all work, but I am now fairly well again.
Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP4190.4212)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP4190,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 2 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP4190