No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 25 



of drawings which I mean to forward by to-morrow's coach, 

 wliich is at Ye Bell Savage, Ludgate HUl. I have according 

 to my promise given a name to each bird, altho' I have been 

 at much loss in respect to ye genus of many of them. Indeed, 

 even ye sizes in some cases have not been noticed, anymore 

 than ye manners. Independent of many circumstances not 

 possible to be assertained by dehneations, unless aided by 

 accurate descriptions, and which, had ye painter been at all 

 versed in ornithology, he could not have failed to have 

 remarked in writing. I should therefore think it not un- 

 likely but in case ye specimens themselves should hereafter 

 come before you or me, we might alter our present opinion. 

 I do not suppose that any other notes in writing can be got 

 at besides those already in your possession, but if so, I should 

 advise you to take ye advantage of it. New subjects wiU 

 no doubt, from time to time arrive from New Holland, and 

 in such case you wiU do well to take the advantage of 

 procuring drawings at least of them, and you cannot do me 

 a greater favour than in granting me a view of them. If 

 it were possible to trace ye circumvolutions of ye trachea 

 in ye Anas semi-palmata 1 should be greatly pleased, and this 

 might be obtained either by bringing a specimen over whole 

 in spirits or by making accurate drawings of the parts on 

 the spot. I must observe to you that several of ye drawings 

 appear to me to have been taken from one and the same 

 species, and which you will find me to have noticed in more 

 places than one. The names I have given are such as struck 

 me to be best adapted, but I am not solicitous to impose 

 them on the world, especially as some persons seem to take 

 pleasure in altering the names of preceding describers, and 

 may do ye same by me, to which, as heretofore, I most readily 

 submit. Have only now to add my real thanks for your 

 great kindness, and remain, dear Sir, Most Sincerely Yours, 

 John Latham. Romsey, 26 Jan., 1800. 



" I think you must receive your parcel to-morrow evening, 

 or on some part of Tuesday ; if not, be so good as to enquire 

 for it, at ye Inn^ — and at all events make me easy by a line to 

 say it arrives safe, as its contents are too valuable to be lost." 



