MKMom OP THE LATE JOHN* SCALES. 
119 
he obtained from the Orkneys. I was very urgent to secure one, which he 
lot nio have upon ray engaging to procure for him a particular large shell 
with the orifice the contrary way, or what may bo termed a left-handed shell, 
which ho had not been able to procure, but I was fortunate enough to 
succeed in doing [so] in London, costing me two guineas. I think the shell was 
of the genus Murex ... I shall feel much obliged to Mr. Hancock if 
he will return it [the Great Auk’s egg] as soon as he has made a model of it, 
and that you will also return it to me as soon after as possible. ... Be 
so kind as just to drop me a line to say it has arrived safe, as you may 
suppose I shall be glad to hear of it having reached you safely.* 
November 13, 1859. 
I was sorry to hear of poor Mr. Salmon’s death. We were living near each 
other when young men, and ho first acquired a ta.ste for oology, botany, and, 
I believe I may say. Natural History in general, from seeing my collections 
at that period. ... I regret extremely that Mr. Wolley should have 
been atUickcd by such a malady, which will deprive the lovers of oology of a 
most valuable member. ... As regards sending the Auk’s egg and the 
two casts, 1 will avail myself of your suggestion . . . and I also beg 
to express my sincorest thanks for your kindness and the trouble you took to 
bring away with you from Mr. AVolley’s the egg and casts. 
November 30, 1859. 
T have very great pleasure in writing to announce to you the safe arrival 
of the package containing the Great Auk’s egg, and the two models cast by 
Mr. Hancock, which I consider most exquisitcl}* and oorrectly made, one 
being a perfect fac-simile of my own, and no doubt that of his own is 
equall}' so. ... I am sure I feel very much obliged to him not only 
for the casts with which ho has so kindly presented me, but also for the 
beautiful manner in which he cleaned lu}' Great Auk's egg. ... I had 
very great pleasure in sending the egg for the purpose. . . . With 
regard to ‘ The Ibis ’ I consider it a work got up in the highest style and 
most scientifically edited by Mr. Sclater ; but I am utterly confounded to 
see the immense number of new genera of our British Birds, and were it not 
for the specific names of some of . them the species could not be recognized. 
The increase which has been made, during my time, is extraordinary, and if 
it continues to go on as it has done in all the departments of Natural History 
every species will be a genus of itself. I thought formerly that my late 
friend Hr. Leach and the late Mr. Stephens had gone to an extraordinary 
increase but they were nothing to compare to the increase of the present 
day. 
* After this egg had been modelled b}* Mr. Hancock, it was lent to the 
late Mr. "Wolley to be photographed, and in consequence of that gentleman’s 
unfortunate illness, which proved fatal, it was not returned to Mr. Scales 
until more than a twelvemonth later. — A.N. 
