Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology 5 



indicus fonnoscnsis ; Sphcnoinorplius hoidengerl; Leiolepisma 

 latcralc hocttgcri; Lygosaurus pclloplenrus hrowni; Taky- 

 droiiius stcjncgcri Achalinns -cvcrncri, and Callophis szvinhoci. 



Dr. Van Denburgh has published his formal paper "Con- 

 cerning Certain Species of Reptiles and Amphibians from 

 China, Japan, the Loo Choo Islands, and Formosa (Proc. Cal. 

 Ac. Sci., Ser. 4, Vol. Ill, p. 187-258, Dec. 16, 1912), and there 

 full data can be obtained regarding all of Dr. Van Denburgh's 

 species. I noticed at once, however, that no reference was 

 made to Thompson's descriptions though two of Thompson's 

 papers antedated Van Denburgh's preliminary. This fact with 

 the duplication of names which I observed led me to write a 

 letter of inquiry to both Dr. Van Denburgh and Dr. Thomp- 

 son, as I myself was engaged in working upon material from 

 these areas at that time.* 



The following is Dr. Thompson's answer : 



U. S. S. ALBATROSS, 



Sausalito, Calif., 



December 27, 19 12. 

 Dear Sir : 



Your letter of December 14th is written in a grossly in- 

 sinuating tone. It is obnoxious to the limit. 



The alternative presents of replying in terms that would 

 border on being contraband in the mails, or of calling atten- 

 tion to the absurdity of your attempting to sit in judgment on 

 matters which your distance from the scene of action and 

 ignorance of the facts combine to prevent the forming of an 

 intelligent opinion. 



I have been instrumental in bringing to the California 

 Academy since the Fire about 12,000 specimens of reptiles. 



* It is extremely unfortunate that I am unable to publish my own letters in 

 tliis connection, but I carelessly failed to retain copies. 



