Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew Correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1891-1896, f. 63. 94.06.25a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Thiselton-Dyer, 1894-06-25 [94.06.25a]. 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/1890-6/1894/94-06-25a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

25/6/94.
1
Date stamped Royal Gardens Kew 30. JUL. 94.; annotated in red ink by W. Hemsley: Ackd. 2.8.95 (letter not found).
In a separate cover, dear Dr Dyer I beg to send you a small truffle
2
a small truffle is underlined in red pencil, and the adjacent margin annotated in black ink by John Jackson: specimen retained for museum, acknd. from Herb JRJ 1/8/94.
from the Upper Macleay-River region in N.S.W. which I do not think to have sent before and which I just received from Mr A R. Crawford. The special interest which attaches to this tuberaceous fung, consists in its being sought for food by the two Lyrebirds, Menura superba and M. Alberti. I would therefore suggest, that the specific name should be Menurae, if this little truffle should as yet be undescribed.
3
There is no fungus with a species epithet based on Menurae listed in FNI or in Index Fungorum (each index accessed 4 May 2021) .
I am making some strenuous efforts, to secure under the Government of Tasmania or Victoria a permanent position for Mr Brian Hooker, adequate to his talents and congenial to his taste. But at this period of financial depression in the austral. Colonies, it is very difficult to create new positions, and even vacancies, even if they do occur, are for sake of economy not filled again as a rule, subject to few exceptions. If I am allowed to make a suggestion, it is, that Sir Joseph write to the hon. Dr Agnew, (M.D.) Hobart, who has immense influence both political and social, and who would likely succeed to place Mr Brian Hooker in a favorable lasting position, Sir Josephs important researches for Tasmania giving this case a special claim.
4
See also M to J. Hooker, 18 June 1894.
With friendship
your
Ferd von Mueller
But perhaps meanwhile Sir James Hector may have secured for him a govern. position in NZ
5
Brian Hooker had been in New Zealand engaged on behalf of a private syndicate to examine tin ore on Stewart Island (Wanganui chronicle, 14 December 1892, p. 2), later working as a consulting mining engineer (Otago witness, 23 March 1893, p. 18, col. c). He was based in Invercargill and advertised his services as 'mining engineer and mineralogist. Mines inspected and reported upon', e.g. Otago witness, 12 October 1893, p. 12, col. c.