WCP742

[1]¹

Broadstone, Wimbo[rne]

Sept[embe]r. 27^th [1900]

My dear Fred

I was very glad to get your letter about S[an]t^a. Catalina & the good prospects there, especially of the new "forest-road" which ought to produce you a grand crop of beetles, though, as S[outh]. American beetles have been perhaps more largely collected than ⁱⁿ any part of the tropics you must not expect more than a sprinkling of new or rare species, but no doubt hundreds of the small ones you will collect will be new. So with the butterflies if you get 2 — 3 per cent new it will be as much as you can expect as so many species extend from the Amazon to B[ritish]. Guiana² and Venezuala.

The box of plants arrived a few days after the letter, and <I am> much obliged to you for <them>. [2]³ [MS burned] large Tillansia⁴ [sic] — (broad green spotted leaves with a large branching flower spike) one only arrived alive but I think that will grow. Also one rather large green leaved orchid. The smaller straggly orchid was dead. The plant you sent dried flowers of is not an orchid at all, but the beautiful Utricularia Montana. It has reticulated leaves, and spurred flowers like those of our little aquatic Utricularias on a large scale — One plant has 2 green leaves & a cluster of fleshy root-tubers & I hope will live — another small cluster of tubers had the leaves dead — but still it may live. I am delighted with this plant; & hope I may grow it as it is I think more easy to manage than orchids. I have not your account [MS burned] your expedition to Tucuche⁵ yet, but [MS burned] you took temperatures at the [MS burned], day & night, & also whether [3]⁶ there is any period of droug[ht].

When you go to S[an]ta. Catalina [MS burned] had better I should think have your letters sent to care of Capt[ai]n. Boynton Agent, to be forwarded with his by his steamer, as this would be much safer than sending by Venezuelan post. When I am assured it will reach you safely I will send you a copy of any new book if, as expected, it come[s] out next month.

As to the birds for the Company Office of course you will only send good skins, ^& not attempt to mount them, as that can be so easily done in a place like Cincinnati in a group in a large case suitable for an Office. It [MS burned] be advisable to send a dozen or so of good skins ^{of the common showy bird} for this [MS burned] as a present to the [MS burned] [4]⁷ [MS burned] Boynton as you think best. Also do not at all scruple to accept Capt[ai]n and Mrs. Boynton’s hospitality, even as a permancy [sic], for in such a solitary place a companion is an acquisition even if he does or can do nothing whereas you will be able in many ways to help them in doing little bits of joiner’s work in the house: the cost of food for one extra would be absolutely nothing to them.

Of course you would be occasionally away for ^days weeks, or months, in some other good localities you might find, but it is an immense advantage to have a house in such a country, and I have little doubt you will find them agreeable people and get on well with them. If they [MS burned] ideas at all, your collections [MS burned] interest them.

[MS burned] till I hear you are really [MS burned] the promised land," where [MS burned] abound and of butterflies

[MS burned]⁸ Yours very sincerely | Alfred [MS burned]