Hae) ALCA IMPENNIS. 
many and such various localities that there is no chance whatever of 
giving you any clue to this one. I should think that one of the 
Welsh bathing-places would have the honour of producing so valuable 
a specimen, but it is all uncertain, and I repeat that I cannot give 
you any clue to trace it.” 
(Mr. Wilmot, in forwarding this letter to me, considered that the enquiry 
had been carried so far as it was possible; but that was not the opinion of 
Mr. Wolley, when a copy of the letter reached him in Lapland some months 
after, and, though gratefully acknowledging Mr. Wilmot’s services, he him- 
self on the 24th of April, 1857, addressed Mr. Davies directly in the following 
terms :— | 
“At the date of your letter [to Mr. Wilmot} you could not give 
any elue to the history of the egg. But Ido not know whether it 
had been especially mentioned to you that Mr. Alfred Dudley has an 
impression that, when you gave the egg to him some twenty years 
ago, you told him that a friend (doubtless then mentioned by name) 
had given it to you, and at the time you even related how the friend 
became possesseil of it. 
“ Now sometimes when all other little particulars have slipped 
from one’s memory, one can call to mind the friends of our schoolboy 
days, who have taken an interest in the same pursuits as ourselves. 
Therefore I venture to take the liberty of asking you whether you 
cannot call to your recollection who of your friends may have been 
likely to present to you this doubtless largest sea-bird’s egg in your 
collection. Even in those days it was of some yalue, as I gather from 
the price of ‘27s. faintly marked upon it. If the egg could but be 
triccd one step back from you there is little doubt, from various 
circumstances which have come to my knowledge, that it could still 
be ascertained in what spot and by what man it was originally 
found. 
‘Besides an answer to the question concerning the friend there 
are two other points which might help to throw light on the 
matter. 
“Pirst: Did you ever yourself make purchase of valuable or 
expensive eggs ? 
“ Secondly : Do you remember whether you were in the habit of 
writing the English and Latin names upon eggs which came into 
your possession, for this egg is so written upon ? 
«There is even a third question to which an answer would be of 
some help. Is there any circumstance by which you can remember 
either when you gaye the egg to Mr. Dudley, or when you are likely 
