Summary

Letter on single sheet of paper folded into four, written (presumably) by ornithologist John Cotton to his brother circa 1834-1848. It includes the end of a former letter, then begins 'My dear brother / In the [illeg, above cross-out] of this country are few in number, and but seldom seen...'. The original wording before crossing out appears to have been 'The birds of this country are few...' The letter includes a sketch of a bird's face and full bird on the front, and another face and further full bird on the inside. He goes on to talk about parakeets, cockatoos and many other species.

He also makes other observations of his environment, such as 'The grubs of some of the moths afford a dainty morsel to the natives, which they find in the decayed wood...'

From an archive of writings by and about ornithologist John Cotton. The archive includes his diary, manuscripts and sketches, as well as transcriptions and later research notes. John Cotton's writings are likely to have come to Museum Victoria in the early 1970s during research by Allan McEvey, then Curator of Birds at Museum Victoria.

Physical Description

Single sheet of paper, folded in half. Extensive writing and four sketches, now very browned. Paper corners and edges torn and folded.

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