The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Easter 1879 ¶ ¶ Again, best of men and friend, a small consignment is ready for you from here, and then also another ¶ large ¶ Australian Crocodile will reach you specially packed. The latter alone...

Document information

Physical location:

Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart. 79.04.13

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ferdinand von Krauss, 1879-04-13. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/79-04-13>, accessed September 11, 2025

MS annotation by Krauss: 'empf. 10. Juni '79. Rep. 3. Juli' [received 10 June '79. Replied 3 July]. Letter not found.

A further note reads: '27. Juni 1879 wurden an das zoolog. Museum abgeschickt in Rostock (unfrankirt)' [27th June 1879 were sent off to the zoological museum in Rostock (without prepayment)]

'2 Bälge Strigops an den Flugeln beschadigt' [2 skins of Strigops damaged on the wings]

'1 Skel. Strigops (dieser schadhaftes […]' [1 skeleton of Strigops (this damaged […])]

'1 Balg u. 1 Skelet v. Apteryx Owenii' [1 skin and 1 skeleton of Apteryx owenii].

Ostern /1879.

Wiederum, bester Herr u Freund, ist eine kleine Sendung für Sie fertig geworden von hier, u dann wird Ihnen speciell verpackt auch noch ein grosses austral Crocodil zugehen. Das letztere allein mit Verpackung und Fracht kostet etwa zehn £. Sie sehen also, dass ich kein Opfer scheue, Ihnen nützlich zu sein. Gern möchte ich nun nach genauerer Untersuchung von Ihnen wissen, ob diese Art von der indischen verschieden sei.

Das grosse Ex. geht pr "Scottish Prince" von Queensland direct an Sie ab (pr Blackith & Co); ein kleineres Exemplar sende ich mit den andere Sachen an Hr Dr Sonder, wie Sie aus beigefügten Notiz ersehen werden.

Von den Apterixbälgen u Strigopsbälgen,

Strigops over Nestor deleted.

so wie von den Skeletten dieser Vögel bitte ich Sie 1 Ex. an das Museum meiner Vaterstadt Rostock gütig senden zu wollen

Stets der Ihre

Ihr Ferd. von Mueller

What follows is on a separate sheet and is filed separately, but would appear to be the ‘enclosed note’ to which M refers in his letter. The list is accompanied by a bill of lading from Brasch & Rothenstein, Berlin for shipping from London.

Liste für H. Prof. Dr. Krauss

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1Fass Fische & Reptilien von West Australien

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1 Kiste enthält

4 Kakapoo Bälge, 4 MS annotation by Krauss: 'Strigops'.		von Neu Seeland
2 do Scelette
4 Kiwi Bälge 5 MS annotation by Krauss: 'Owenia'.
2 Kakapoo Scelette 6 MS annotation by Krauss: 'Kiwi'.

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4 Ratten & Mäuse von Nord Queensland

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1Paq Bücher & Drucksachen

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6div. Vogelbälge von West. Australien

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1Paq Spongi Neuseeland

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Pr s.s. " Durham "

Care of Dr Sonder

Kiste enthält

1 Alligator von Nord Queensland

Easter 1879

Easter fell on 13 April in 1879.

Again, best of men and friend, a small consignment is ready for you from here, and then also another large Australian Crocodile will reach you specially packed. The latter alone with packing and freight costs about ten £. You see therefore that I spare no sacrifice to be useful to you. I would like now to know from you after closer investigation whether this species is different from the Indian.

See M to F. von Krauss, 19 March 1879.

The large specimen goes off per "Scottish Prince" from Queensland direct to you (per Blackith & Co); I am sending a smaller specimen with the other things to Dr Sonder, as you will gather from the enclosed note.

Of the Apteryx skins and Strigops skins, as well as of the skeletons of these birds, I ask you to kindly send 1 specimen to the museum of my native town Rostock.

Always your

Ferd. von Mueller.

List for Prof. Dr. Krauss

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1 barrel of fishes & reptiles from Western Australia

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1 crate containing

4 Kakapo skins

2 ditto skeletons

4 Kiwi skins

MS annotation by Krauss: 'Owenia'.

2 Kakapo skeletons

MS annotation by Krauss: 'Kiwi'.

from New Zealand

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4 rats & mice from North Queensland

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1 packet of books & printed matter

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6 various bird skins from Western Australia

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1 packet of sponges New Zealand

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Pr s.s. " Durham "

Care of Dr Sonder

1 crate containing

1 Alligator from North Queensland

On 17 June 1879 C. Blackith wrote to Krauss:

London, 17 June 1879

Professor Dr Krauss

Stuttgart

Dear Sir,

We forwarded to your address via Flushing carriage paid DS. 1 Case & DK One Case, both contg Natural History Specimens and which we trust will reach you safely; they come from the Baron F von Mueller of Melbourne, Australia; some of the contents we believe are for Dr. Sonder, Hamburgh.

We shall be pleased if you will make use of our services for the transmission of any goods you are sending to or having home from abroad.

We are dear Sir

Yours truly

C. J. Blackith Co