WCP781

Si Munjon [Simunjan] Coal Works¹ n[ea]r. Sarawak

May 8th. 1855.

My dear Sir²

I should have written before to acknowledge the receipt of your letter containing your report on my Singapore Curculionidae, and thank you for the trouble you took. I assure you it was most interesting & agreeable to me to find that so many of my insects were new, and has given me much encouragement to persevere in my search after the smaller species. You will probably already have heard through Mr Stevens³ that I have found another good locality here! which I continue to work very hard at. Curculionidae altogether do not bear quite so large a proportion to the other families as at Singapore, neither are the Anthribidae so numerous among them, but there is still a great number of fine things. Of Cerastonema I have two or three species all I thingk different from the beautiful one which you were so kind as to name after me. Micocerus [Mecocerus] Gazella is very abundant, and there [2] is another closely allied species which I hope may be new. The colouring of these insects is remarkably sober & untropical — Out of about 220 species of Rhyncophora which I have obtained here I have not one with metallic colours, nor indeed with any brilliant colours at all. I long to get into a country where I should find the beautiful Pachyrhychus or something like it, perhaps I shall in Celebes [Sulawesi] or the Moluccas [Melaka Islands].

To turn from small beasts to large, I am now of course much interested in the "Mias" or Orang Outan & hope to determine the question satisfactorily of one two — three species[.]⁴ The three reputed species are found here & I think in two or three months I am sure to get adults of each for examination. I do not know whether you consider the three species as proved by the sculls [sic], but it seems extraordinary that Temminck⁵ with the mass of materials at [illeg.] his disposal should dispute it. At present my own opinion is that the small species Simia Morio ^(Owen) is undoubtedly distinct[.] I have seen the young of this & of a large species [3] and when fresh killed they could readily be distinguished though perhaps not by the stuffed skins. Of the existence of two large species known by the single & double crested sculls I think there is still much doubt & this I hope to set at rest. The living animals are said to be distinguished by the presence or absence of the cheek callosities — now the callosities do not seem always to accompany the same form of scull. Sir J. Brooke⁶ says the animal with cheek callosities has a double crested scull. Blyth⁷ says the same, but Temminck has *^many8 skins with cheek callosities ^{& the sculls belonging to them} but out of a large series only one double crested scull. Blyth says all the skeletons in Europe have the single crested scull — yet the animal has always been known by its cheek callosities as in the B. M. [British Museum] specimens — This would show that either the crests or the callosities or both are variable, & this I hope to be able to determine. I have got some sculls & skeletons from the Dyaks⁹ & have myself shot two small animals, but have not [4]¹⁰ yet seen an adult of either species. I have however come to this place on purpose to get them, & as it is a good locality for insects I shall remain quietly for four or six months if necessary to settle this most interesting zoological question — Any hints you can give me on the subject I shall be glad of & they will probably still find me here — I am getting also from my own observation & from the Dyaks, valuable if information as to the habits of these most strange animals. I have had positive information that a species exists in the peninsula of Malacca very near Singapore & when I return there I shall endeavour to ascertain the fact..

I remain │ yours faithfully │ Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

G. R. Waterhouse Esq.

P.S. In the Lit. Gaz. [Literary Gazette]. you will see some account of my present locality.¹¹