Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne

12/8/7[8]

1

While '70' is a possible alternative reading, several things point to M's having intended '78', namely the date of publication of Castelnau' s description, the accession dates of the specimens at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, the archival location of the letter, and the fact that the design of M's baronial arms was not finalized until 1872.

In reply to your letter of the 11th June, dear Dr Guenther,

2

Letter not found.

I beg to inform you, that Count de Castelnau never got more than 2 specimens of his Neocarassius ventricosus, one of which he wishes to keep as a typical specimen, the other he has sent to the Paris Museum.

3

The fish was described in Castelnau (1872), p. 237. The on-line catalogue of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle does not included a specimen of Neocarassius ventricosus , but there are two Castelnau specimens of Carassius auratus auratus of which Neocarassius ventricosus is a synonym, collected in 1877 (MNHN-IC-1877-0395 and MNHN-IC-1877-0461 ( https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/ic/item/list accessed 5 August 2019).

At the latter place, which you doubtless visit from time to time, you would be able to examine this apparently singular creature. The Count has promised me, that the next specimen, which may be caught, should be placed at my disposal. In such a case I shall not fail to send it to you.

If in any other way I can be of service to you, pray command unhesitatingly my attention.