Alexander Henry Haliday

“ I found time to have taken at Rome. My friends here consider it a good likeness. probably you may have not been in the way of hearing of the disposal of the late J. Curtis’ entomological collection. His British collection—the best general one— and most trustworthy one as to the nature of the specimens (unless it be that of Stephens —now in the British Museum—and this was much inferior to it as to number of species and nomenclature unless in the Coleoptera & Lepidoptera) has been purchased for the Museum of Melbourne University (Australia) for £500 sterling. ”

“ I trust the resolution you have come to will prove indeed to be for your good whole health which does seem to demand repose at last and that your future excursions and scientific pursuits without overstraining your powers will be an antidote to the ennui which often creeps over those who have lived a continual active life, when they seek repose after it. ”

“ I am glad to be able to send a few more opiate pills for them. Stainton is at Florence now, Dohm will be detained at home yet ten days or a fortnight—so they will not meet till at Rome or Naples. H.T.S. thinks Dohm not unlikely to proceed on to Messina (where his son A D is) when they turn their faces homeward... That would be a temptation would it not for me. If I am free at that time especially as we do not expect any of the scattered members of my family to rejoin us till late in summer. ”

“ I think I will escape to Florence about the new year’s day & plough my way on to Vallembrosa. Perhaps I may (besides accomplishing my immediate object) discover Chionea there, which Ihave never seen alive. Diptera have nearly vanished here now except the perennial Trichocera, Chirononea??, Mycetophilae, Culex and here & there rarely Opetia (which is rather abnormal insect in Tuscany) and a few surviving Dacus oleae —and some species of Tephritis-Chlorops-- , Phora. ”

“ Indeed I have had very little time disposable for that purpose, all this summer. After our return to Lucca, I had to go with Mr Hogan, to try different situations—he finding some sufficiently cool for his summer quarters. Ultimately he proceeded northwards, and is now at Thun or elsewhere on the other side of the Alps, awaiting some of his family from England, who are to join him for the journey home. In consequence, I had to leave my brother to make his visit to Florence alone: where he finding the heat of May almost intolerable, staid [sic] only a week more ”

“ On a late visit, with Mr Wright to the rocky sea coast near Livorno, I met with one specimen of Discomyza cimiciformis,—also with a new species of Psilopa, allied to - with wings more spotted than in any other species ”

“ Bibio RD in abundance siculus (sevl) , common, but males only. (+ Tipula berteii is departed) . Pyralus N. unionalis. Xylocopa violacea Mantis oratoria , spallanzania, Bacillus rossi , Chrysopa______ but not Lestes which I have taken on new year’s day in other years. ”