Wesleyan University Middleton, Conn., June 30, 1880. Thomas R. Pickering, Esq.; Dear Sir, I sent out our box of skins and dried plants to Mr. Earle last Saturday. I trust they arrived safely. Now in exchange for them we would like almost any objects of natural history which are distinctively Australian, especially representatives of those families of animals and plants which are peculiar or almost peculiar to that region. We have a few Marsupial Mammals, a list of which I append to this letter. We have no birds From that region, only three or four lizards, no fishes, invertebrates (except shells of mollusks), or plants. We would like any Marsupials we can get which are not included in the appended list. A skin of a small cestraciont shark would be very acceptable. A Peripatus in alcohol I would like to get if possible. But it is needless to specify. Almost anything you are likely to get will be acceptable. Directors of local museums there will of course appreciate the fact that the things most peculiar to Australia will be the
things most prized elsewhere. Please do not get shells of Mollusks. We have a good supply of those. If you should happen to meet anyone who wanted to exchange the marine invertebrates of Australia for those of New England, we would be glad to be put in communi- cation with him, and could furnish a good lot of alcoholic invertebrates for an exchange at some future time. With many thanks for your kind interest in our Museum, I am yours truly, Wm. North Rice
List of Australian Mammals in Museum of Wesleyan University.