Ferdinand von Mueller

Letter not found. the text given here is from 'Public notices', Argus, 16 January 1860, p. 8 (B60.01.03). The notice was reprinted in the Argus almost daily up to 1 March 1861. See also M to the Editor of the Argus, 13 January 1860.

A comment on the repeated insertion of this advertisment was made by the South Australian adverttiser on 5 November 1860, p. 2. Noting that 'Mr Mueller's appeal is dated 13 January, although we cut it out of a paper published at the close of October', the paper went on to say 'it is really very provoking that the Professor must appeal in this way for nearly a whole year, and not get a pair of laughing jackasses. We suggest, however, that, as the magpies and jackasses won't let Mueller put salt on their tails, some modification of Mr. Wilson's "plan" should be tried. Why not send a few of those " boomer snakes" (boomerang snakes, probably) to which the Argus has lately devoted so many paragraphs, or a wild cat, or a 'possum, or a peck of grasshoppers, or a bottle of mosquitos? Surely Australia isn't sacred to magpies and jackasses, and certainly it is not necessary for Mr. Mueller to be thus pleading and praying all the year round for a laughing jackass, as if he and Mr. Wilson had set their hearts upon a live dodo, and had pledged their and Victoria's honor never to relax the search till they had found that rara avis.'

M had received at least one 'laughing jackass' by February 1860, from Adelaide per Queen ('Shipping intellligence', 'Imports', Argus , 28 February 1860, p. 4).