Ferdinand von Mueller

15/6/79.

Your kind letter, dear Dr. Agnew, remained for some or many days unanswered, as I was surrounded by pressing duties for some time past.

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Letter not found.

Excuse under the circumstances the delay of my acknowledgment. The fossils, transmitted by Mr Wintle,

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The fossils in question were probably those displayed by Wintle at a meeting of the Royal Society of Tasmania on 8 April 1879; see Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania for 1 879 (1880), p. 2.

are very interesting & particularly so the leguminous fragments representing two species. It will take some time to search (up to date) through the palaeontologic literature to determine the affinity of these plants, and it would be well if the zealous observer and clever generalizer, who found these vegetable remnants, could procure more specimens, so that a full diagnosis of the respective species could be elaborated. As there seems to be no urgency about settling the specific position of these vegetable relics, I will wait to learn, whether a[ddi]tional

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editorial addition — MS damaged.

specimens are procurable

About the fossil shell I will obtain Professor MCoys most valuable opinion. The whole will of course be returned to your Museum.

Let me remain, dear Dr Agnew, with regardful remembrance your

I do not like to sacrifice the very few fragments by dissection