Document information

Physical location:

Director’s letterbooks, MVS 2/1 2, p. 436, Melbourne Museum. 65.04.29

Preferred Citation:

Frederick McCoy to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1865-04-29. 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//letters/1860-9/1865/65-04-29-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

29/4/65
My Dear Dr Müller
I enclose a cheque for the two guineas for Mr Elliott ' s Fusus Colosseus
1
M to F. McCoy, 25 April 1865 (in this edition as 65-04-25e ), is the notification that the shell held by Elliott was available .
which shall be marked in the Museum as collected by Dr Leichardt
2
i.e. Leichhardt.
when you send it to you
3
us? me? Museum account: 'Treasurer Leichhardt Exploration Fund | 17/14/65 Specimens etc | 1 shell Fusus colossus £2.2.0 | pd out of advance cs 116 | 29/4/65' (Account book, no. 49 (90), Museum of Victoria). Fusus colossus , or Fusus colosseus , was the name used for a tropical mollusc; see Woods (1868), p. 45. In that paper Tenison Woods wrote 'I need not remind you of the fine specimen of this shell which is in our National Museum, and was brought from Port Essington', presumably the one acquired from Elliott. Since the purchase price was paid to the Leichhardt Exploration Fund, Elliott presumably donated the specimen to the Ladies' Leichhardt Search Committee to be sold; a donation of £2 2s from 'Mr S. Elliott' was acknowledged by the Committee Treasurer in Leader (Melbourne), 13 May 1865, p. 14.
Ever very truly yrs &c
F. McC.