Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here (B83.05.04) is from Macleay (1883), p. 106. The paper was read at the meeting of the Linnean Society of NSW on 29 March 1882. M's text is introduced by 'I received from Baron von Mueller a few days ago, two specimens of a small fish which inhabits the icy ponds of the snowy range in the neighbourhood of Mt. Kosciusko. The Baron writes as follows:'

I saw the same little creature in several of the waters high up in the Alps, during my exploration of the Snowy Mountains in 1853-4, and 1855, and again in later years when travelling, but I was in the then pathless alpine regions, unable to preserve zoological specimens. When in 1874, I for the second time ascended Mt. Kosciusco, I saw this species of fish again in the little glacier ponds, but missed catching any, my time being so much occupied, during my brief stay on the snowy summit, in the pursuit of plants.

2

Macleay continued: 'The two specimens now sent me were captured by S. (sic= J.) Findlay, Esq., J. P., on Mt. Kosciusko a short time ago, and in accordance with the learned Baron's expressed wish, I dedicate the species to its finder.' Macleay named the species Galaxias findlayi.

Findlay also assembled a collection of lichens, which M sent to Geneva; see M to J. Müller, 12 March 1882.