Transcribe Stafford, Cyril. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1882-08)

nwh "Revised" InitiatoryLines". to Letter of Advice ! ^"^ x <s?/s> Hail ! to the Land, I may n'eer see again. The wide ? of drought, or of plentious rain." etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc Gipps Land Lakes Aug 1882 To Prof. H. A. Ward Dear Sir/

       When your last welcome letter, reached

?, I was away for the first time, after a long spell of Rheumatics, ? Lambo River, Platypus Hunting on your account. In the space of 3 weeks, I was enabled by constant watching, and slodgeing, to obtain about a dozen having no spirit on hand, I had to prepare them all ie skins or skeletons I have now on hand about 16 0f these animals in skins and skeletons, most of the latter are quire perfect. I put one Female in the little Spirit , I had remaining, which is barely enough to cover it - I cannot as yet say whether it will answer - The time of year is now undoubtedly coming on when most of the Females obtained ought to be put in ? as they are not at all unlikely to be gravid - The weight of these said Platypi are just ? ? all I know about them is that they are exceedingly hard to get hold of, but get them when you will, or where you may, you will always obtain ar leasr 5 males to one female. How do you account for that. You will I further believe, find them to be ?! Besides the above number of ?, I have ever to state, for little on your account - a ? cockatoo, skin. viper ? ? skeleton of ? ?, ? of Flying Fox