Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from a report under 'Current topics' in Geelong advertiser, 16 November 1865, p. 2. The letter is introduced by 'The Honorary Secretary of the Geelong branch of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria has addressed the following letter to Dr Mueller:—'

Alfred Douglass is identified as the Honorary Secretary of the Geelong Branch in the report of the inaugural meeting of the Branch held on 16 December 1863 ( Geelong advertiser , 17 December 1863, p. 3), and in an advertisement announcing a meeting of subscribers to the Branch signed by him as 'Honorary Secretary' in Geelong advertiser, 13 March 1866, p. 4.

Allow me to congratulate you upon the successful acclimatisation of the English Thrush in the gardens under your charge, and I was delighted to find that you made the announcement at the last meeting of the Acclimatisation Society in Melbourne, 'that the thrushes this year were so numerous in the gardens, that it was determined to catch the young birds when fully fledged, for the purpose of liberating them in various parts of the colony.'

2

See, under 'The news of the day', the report of the meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria held on 14 November 1865 (Age, 15 November 1865, p. 5).

I hope, my dear sir, in your distribution you will not pass over Geelong in your desire to add to the pleasure of the general public. Our gardens, you are aware, are admirably adapted for the purpose of acclimatising the thrush and other English song birds. When any birds are committed to our charge every care will be taken of them by this society.