Ferdinand von Mueller

1

There are three King 'sea grass' specimens collected in 1894 at MEL, filed under Zostera muelleri subsp. capricorni, two dated August and one dated October. The August collections mention a letter with them, but there is no such reference in the details for the October specimen.

Beresford Road

Homebush

2

Sydney.

Oct. 16th /94

Dear Baron von Mueller,

I have just got some interesting specimens of "Sea-grasses", which I hasten to send to you, they are again from our "Harbour". I wonder if the spores contain the pollen that fertilises the flower (if they are flowers) in the accompaning specimen? I see how requisite your kind advice was about not jumping at conclusions, for I know so little about "Sea-grasses", never having studied them — and know nothing about those in Britain. If I am impatient to get the names of the marine fossils from Sir Frederick McCoy please forgive me, for I have a paper waiting for them that will be most useful to science just now!

Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your friend the Dean of Melbourne

3

H. B. Macartney.

— I never forget that it was his son that introduced me to you. You have been such a valuable friend ever since — I always feel I can't do enough to show you how grateful I am for all your kindness to me.