WCP747

[1]

Broadstone, <Wimborne>

Nov<ember>: 24th <1905>¹

My dear Fred²

I wrote you ^by last Friday [MS burned] with copy of D^r. Heath's³ letter about set [MS burned] beetles. Also D^r. Jordan's⁴ instructions to send moths. Also a few ideas of <my> own. I have since got your short [MS burned] of Oct. 31 saying you go to S^ta Cat. in [MS burned] weeksmore.! I hope so! I have [MS burned] since had a reply from Mr. Schill⁵ ( my explanatory letter) of which I enc<lose a> copy, which is also I think satisfact<ory> as he is evidently still eager to buy beetles as he feels most interest in [MS burned] will, I think, be best to send hi<m> [MS burned] 2nd. set of the four families he name[MS burned] will include a good lot, as the P[MS burned] are included and the Elaters. [MS burned] curious that Mr. Schill seems [MS burned] Catalina. I wonder if any goo<d> [MS burned] has already been there. [MS burned] that there are [MS burned] [2] [MS burned] as it will make it pleasanter &[MS burned] for you. A map I have of the forests & <pl>ains of the globe shows campo immediately south of the Orinoco Delta in a strip of some [MS burned]0 miles wide, but I should think this must be <a> mistake. However you will know before <yo>u receive this. As you will have to send all your Leps. and Col^a. in papers or sawdust, you <w>ill be able to keep a set of all your butterflies, <the> larger moths, and the best families of beetles <in> your store boxes for reference, which you will <fi>nd immensely interesting and instructive, as <we>ll as necessary in learning what species are <n>ew or rare. In order to do this you must <sen>d a locality ticket with a species number <for> each species you send, those for the Leps. [MS burned]d in the paper with every specimen, and [MS burned] the Col^a. placed under each specimen, [MS burned] these ^latter f getting misplaced it would [MS burned] small boxes and lay a sheet [MS burned] the layers of [3] beetles. Then as each of these is taken [MS burned] to be pinned there will be the numbere<d> [MS burned] locality-ticket underneath to be at onc<e> pinned with it. Round tickets, cut with [MS burned] 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch punch, are best, but if <you> have not such a punch, then square la<bels> like those enclosed will do. (Sa. Cat.) wo<uld> be a good ap abbreviation, but whate<ver> you adopt, keep strictly to it as you h [MS burned] be, later, at San Carlos, or Santa Clara & will want a definite abbreviation fo[MS burned]

The sample I send may seem large, bu[MS burned] have the advantage of not being so easily or mislaid as very small ones, and a<re> better for distinctness of name and for numbers of species.

Of course you will keep a Registe<r of> each species as captured — with nu<mber> date, station, and remarks — [MS burned] column for "Family" [MS burned] name when [4] (4) keep a short Collecting journal, <not>ing down every day the number of <sp>ecies and specimens of Butterflies, Moths, Beetles, and Birds — with a note of <t>he weather, and in exceptionally good [MS burned]ses the numbers of species of the more <im>portant families, with special notes <on> habits. These two registers will be of <im>mense interest to you in future years, <an>d when you have your ^note books properly <labe>led & always at hand on your work <ta>ble will take a very little time either <in> the evening or the following morning, to <m>ake the entries. It is to me a great <regr>et that Bates⁶ has not given more details <of> this kind in his book, which would have <been> of immense interest to every collector. [MS burned] on looking through his book, that [MS burned] of collecting places were those of [MS burned] of paths and roads [MS burned] abundance of [5] (5) [MS burned]rts or lakes, numerous new clearings <in> forest — all near at hand. Also [MS burned]ty of the Indians and their children. <I> hope you will find all these advantages <at> Santa Catalina.

I found in an old note-book the other <da>y the enclosed copy of figure of one <of> Bates' new Papilios from Ega.⁷ You <ar>e not likely to find the same species, <bu>t you will probably find some very near to it, which may perhaps be new. As you have had so much delay in leaving <Tri>nidad I hope you have been able to make [MS burned] a few good skins of small birds and <hav>e sent them to Mr. Ernst Hartert,⁸ Tring, <s>pecimens of your work, as you will receive instructions from him, and [MS burned] to begin preparing skins in the <ma>nner they wish, as they seem to [MS burned] <part>icular. They no doubt want [MS burned] <a>gainst having [6] native skins sent, as I was [MS burned] have been sent for many y<ears> <from> Trinidad, but coming from va<rious> parts of the Mainland.

Have you begun to learn Spanish y<et> There will no doubt be many Spanish people at St^a. Catalina, and if there is <a> hunter of this kind who cannot speak English, it would be a good thing <for> you to get him to shoot birds for <you> & then you would be obliged to lear<n> Spanish to speak to him and would get on. It is necessary to learn all polite phrases and compliments in co<mmon> use, as Spaniards are very particular especially: but even the lowest class<es> appreciate "polite language" (as do <we)> and in both countries, this is often of [MS burned] importance, even to the saving [MS burned]

Hoping, before 'Xmas to hear [MS burned] in the promised la<nd,>

Yours very trul<y> [MS burned]

No doubt Capt. Boynton⁹ speaks Spanish and can help you.