WCP6630

[1] [p. 346]

Natural History Agency Office,

24 Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C.,

April 2, 1859.

DEAR SIR¹, — I have lately received a letter from Mr. Wallace in answer to mine on the subject of the Birds of Paradise for the Crystal Palace, and the following is a copy of the reply, dated Ternate, Moluccas, Oct, 6th 1858: -

Mr. Bartlett and the Crystal Palace Directors have curious ideas about getting live Birds of Paradise, and talk of sending them by dozens as if they were Cockatoos or Lories. Just state the following facts to Mr. Bartlett. 1st. The natives of Aru and New Guinea do not know the nest-breeding-place of the Birds of the Paradise. 2nd. The few that have been obtained alive have been accidental, wounded birds in almost every case. 3rd. Perhaps one Bird of Paradise in ten years is obtained alive. 4th. At least £25 would be asked for them here in the Moluccas — perhaps more — and would be eagerly paid by any of the Dutch officials for presents to send to Java. 5th. In about three hundred years that Europeans have been in the Archipelago and trade carried on with New Guinea and Aru, why have they never reached England or Europe but in one instance? 6th. Let the Directors offer £250 for one male bird, and have it well advertised in Macassar and all the parts of the Moluccas, with a free passage to the [2] [p. 347] person bringing it home, and perhaps in the course of the next twenty years they may get one.

By the foregoing there does not appear much chance of Mr. Wallace getting them over alive, still I am quite sure if he could meet with them he would make the attempt, and trust to the liberality of the Directors.

I am, dear Sir, | Your faithfully, | Samuel Stevens.²