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Summary
Roughly identifies some insects sent by CD; is waiting to see Francis Walker, who, he believes, has written a monograph on the family to which they belong.
Transcription
British Museum
27th. June
My dear Sir
I did not answer directly as I wished to show your insects to Mr. Walker—thinking as they belonged to a family he has monographed—I should get you the name generic as well as specific—f2 Mr. Walker however does not come as usual—so I write to say that the insect belongs in my opinion—to the genus Tetrastichus— Fam. Chalcididæ < > I do not know— when I see Mr. Walker I will try and get the name—or names for I think the specimen with mottled or banded wings is distinct— you shall have all I can ascertain in a day or two
Yours very truly | Fredk Smith
Chas. Darwin Esqre.
Footnotes
- f1
- The year is established by the relationship to the letter from Frederick Smith, 28 June 1862.
- f2
- Smith refers to his colleague at the British Museum, the entomologist Francis Walker, and to Walker’s Monographia Chalciditum (Walker 1839). The letter in which CD asked Smith to identify these insects has not been found; however, see the letter from Frederick Smith, 28 June 1862 and n. 3.