WCP740

[1]¹

Broadstone,

Wimborne

August 1st. 1905

My dear Fred²

Yours of July 14 <received> [MS damaged] telling of your preparations for leaving for Barrancas,³ to stay a few weeks. I am glad to hear this [1 word missing, damaged page] it may have a somewhat <different> [MS damaged] fauna, and if you find it <good> [MS damaged] you can easily go there again [MS damaged] after a few months at S[anta]. <Catalina>⁴ [MS damaged] I should not be surprised if <it> [MS damaged] did not turn out to be the best place — most distinct from Trin[idad]. & <B[ritish]. G[uiana].> [MS damaged].

You seem to have got a [MS damaged] of shells, but it is no good sending <me> [MS damaged] names, as I know none of <them> [MS damaged] but I am always glad to <know> [MS damaged] how many species’ [sic] you <have> [MS damaged]. As to getting them out of <their shells> [MS damaged] [2] the way I adopted was this. Put them in a basin with some warm water, such as you would wash in; then add very slowly hot water, when they will come out to their fullest extent. Then have a kettle of hot boiling water ready, fill up the basin rapidly, when they die without contracting, & will then generally come out entire, with a little care. It saves an immense deal of trouble afterwards. If they can’t be got out this way, I w[oul]^d. try boiling <for> [MS damaged] some time till well cooked; <then> [MS damaged] perhaps they would be easier <to come> [MS damaged] out whole, like periwinkles &c. <I am> glad to hear that <Santa Catalina> [MS damaged] is an old settlement [3] but I sh[oul]^d. think Barrancas <is> [MS damaged] older as on my map it has a road marked from it to <Uracoa>⁵ [MS damaged] inland.

The post out from here is, <for?> [MS damaged] this month, a day and a half later, than it used to be.

I am afraid from what you <say> [MS damaged] that your next letter will also be from Belmont⁶ instead of <from> [MS damaged] Barrancas! We have had <here> [MS damaged] a great drought — for nearly 3 months only two small spells <of> [MS damaged] rain not enoughl to moisten the ground, so that many of <my> [MS damaged] choice plants are withering or dying & vegetables & fruit <are> [MS damaged] suffering greatly.

I do really <long to hear?> [MS damaged] [4]⁷ of your doings & captives on the mighty Orinoko [sic] !⁸ I don’t consider you have really seen South American Insect fauna yet. I should like to hear roughly how many species of beetles you got in Trinidad — how many Longicorns⁹ — Carabidae¹⁰ — & Buprestidae.¹¹ It will serve as a comparison with the mainland, when you have been there a half-year.

Do be careful to get good wholesome food or you will be ill again!

Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[MS damaged] said whether you have learned [MS damaged] Tell me how many English [MS damaged].