WCP687

[1]

Inchrory Lodge,

Tomintoul,

Banffshire,

N. B.

Aug[us]t. 14

Dear M^r. Wallace,

Champion showed me the letter you wrote him about a young naturalist you are interested in who wants to travel & collect, & he asked me to write you about it.

I am afraid there are not many people now in England [2] who purchase tropical collections ^{at least at such a price} [paper torn].

Of course there is Rothschild who is always ready to give good prices for new and fine things especially mammals, birds, or lepidoptera, but other orders of insects. I believe he has now given up & I do not think he cares for small things.

With regard to localities.—

Cuba has been recently visited by Schaus, an American Entomologist, & I fancy he has worked up fairly [3] [paper torn] ^collects well all the larger butterflies & moths & his things have gone to the N[ew] York Museum — I understand he has now started on a visit to Haiti. British Guiana was visited by Whitely who sent a good many of the finer things, or perhaps I should say showy things. Then I had a collector, Sunion[?] in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, but he only sent me enough good things to make me wish for more. A very large number of the species at an altitude of over 5000 feet are modified forms, but [4] at this height there is a very sparse population & it is difficult to work. I rather think H. H. Smith went there & that his success was greatly spoilt by the disturbed state of the country. Amongst the smaller insects, especially coleoptera, there is much to be done at all these places, but provided the country were quiet, I think the Sierra Nevada would be by far the most interesting & it is not difficult of access & it has never been half worked. This is of course outside my country & I have long ago ceased collecting, as I am too far through with my work to make further additions, most of the subjects being closed. If I can be of any use in giving further information I shall be pleased to do so. Had it been a few years ago I should have jumped at¹the cha[nce of] [paper torn] getting a collec[tion.]

Believe me | Very truly Y[ou]rs | J. D. Godman [signature]