Letters from Alexander Henry Haliday to Hermann Loew 2 April 1868- July 22 1868
Letters from Alexander Henry Haliday to Hermann Loew 2 April 1868- July 22 1868 My dear Dr Loew I calculate from your previous advice that I may address the present to your new home at Guben[1] . It is simply to tell you that I am about setting on from ____ excursion in the South. Sicily ______after Algarve [2] which took two months. I am not sure whether when I wrote to you last I had receive a letter from Prof Westwood [3] saying that he and Mr Hewitson [4] were going to visit Vesuvius [5] I trust he would try to spare a day for a visit to me here repaying _______ by a letter at Paris When I would be at home. It is ten years since Westwood and I met up. I was not satisfied either with the arrangements or the programme and wrote at once to Paris offering to form these excursions either prior to the visit or to form these on the road. As far as I know, Aphelia, in both application, in Lepidoptera has disappeared; for what reasons I cannot tell, and have not the books necesssary to hunt it out, but I will ask Westwood himself how the case stands, I do not think he would be biased by the desire to maintain a name. I missed seeing him in my late journey having arrived at Rome the very day after he had left I from the same hotel on his return journey he having only stopped there one day, I presume on account of Mr Hewitson’s health which had nearly defeated their journey out to see Vesuvius in activity. I was too late for this, as a note from Costa [6] awaiting me at Rome commenced “Vesuvius is dead” – not quite buried however as a fortnight later there was still one small stream of lava glowing and plastic. Etna[7] quite dwarfs Vesuvius. We had some inconvenience to suffer in the ascent of the cone of the former – the sulphurous vapour was emitting from the crater so thick, as occurs on a change of weather and the wind was in such a quarter that we had often to stand still with averted faces and mouth and nostrils muffled till the cloud had rolled by. However we reached the lip of the crater early enough to see the sun rise, having past the night I cannot say having slept in a hut at the base of the cone and at an altitude above 9000 feet above sea level. Only once have I been at an altitude greater than that of the summit of Etna, that was on the Graian Alps [8]; but the difficulty of ascent of the latter, at least the labour, is nothing comparatively. When I last saw Etna, (that is nearly a fortnight ago, sailing out of the bay of Syracuse,) the snow, which we had to cross before reaching the base of the cone, seemed little diminished since we had made that ascent. It is a grand object rising to singular height as it does from its sea base in every point of view to a distance of ___ or ____ miles each way North and South along the coast.
Of Italian insects, - either particular or___, or specified localities. In the last letter I had from Walker, he mentioned having just made acquaintance with your correspondent Mr. Verrall. I do not know which of the two will moderate the compilation of the Dipterous portion of the general Catalogue of British insects, in preparation. Walker has so much to do with all other orders, that I should wonder if he could find time for this. I hope to win him back a little to his first subjects, and which he understands the most thoroughly, by our proposed cooperation in some article on new genera and spp. of Chalcididae . I have had no time, what with Ent. Soc. Matters and family troubles, to make any progress with my intended Monograph of the Bethyllidae & Dryinidae. The extent of it will depend, a good deal, on what success I receive to my request for communications from C. J. Thomson, as Sweden is a sort of metropolis for some of the genera. If this fails me, I must limit myself to the species of Western and Southern Europe. Sichel [9], Reinhard [10] Vollenhoven [Samuel Constantinus Snellen van Vollenhoven]have most kindly placed their collections (some of them marked) at my disposal for the object. I am afraid I shall not have as ready or considerable aid from my Italian Hymenopterists. Unfortunately I am obliged to work within my own British Collection, which I hope to have got out here before winter sets in; but between his work as collaborator in the Zoological Record [11] – Secretary to British Scientific Association [12], the second flight to Portugal, the preparation - of his Seychelles [13] Botanical Collections, the candidateship for vacant chair of Botany in Dublin University, and the _ _ therewith, W. Wright has had head and hands full, since he parted from me at Syracuse, and has had no time to get my insect boxes into order fit for sea voyage. I have not seen yet any of his Seychelles insects yet, few, I believe, but likely to be very peculiar, arguing from the Botany of these groups. I have myself been so occupied that it is but a few days since I was able to send Rondani my small Italian collection of Ortalidinae for the that section of his Prodromus on which he is now at work. In case any occasion should arise for direct communication from you to him, I give his address, Prof. C. Rondani, Via Athenes, Parma. In putting together the specimens, and abstracting the notes relative, I came on one notice which may perhaps interest you, as supplementary to the list of habitats of the Trypetidae. Trypeta fuscicornis common on Cirsium maritimum on the borders of the wood of Acerra [14] between Naples and Caserta, settling in no other species of the thistles of which there was an abundant variety. T. cerasi was common on the thistles of the Catania plain, in Sicily, while here, at Lucca, I have found only T. serratulae on the Monte Rossi of Etna, the locality in which alone I found - about 800 metres above sea level, I found a Trypeta of the same section with onotrophes, i.e. with the dorsal series of 2 bristles only, (each out of a black dot in this one) a single specimen, which I have not been able to identify; but Rondani[15] has it from me to describe. The vesuvianus (Costa) I was not too fortunate as to fall in with. Rondani tells me it feeds in the fruits of Zizyphus sprina-christi [16] so it may be identical with bucchic__ (Tran____) out of fruits of Z. vulgaris . Walker informs me that Ceratitus capitata is said to have become naturalized in the British islands, having occupied pears for nidus, in place of oranges. Have you taken any steps yet concerning a journal of insect ______ and physiology, which you spoke of as a desirable institution, in one of your former letters? Targioni [17] got this inserted as one of the subjects contemplated in our ______ society, and I should be very glad if it could hold a place there, but I fear any ______ if such higher matter, ______ a very modest percentage, would towards the end of May last, we were incommoded quite sufficiently by sulphurous vapour, the wind rolling it in stifling wreaths around us, but nothing more solid at that time. On this occasion, it must have been a curious spectacle, the smog __________ of the mighty cone, in a few hours turned to a dull grey, by the coat of ashes falling on the surface of the snow. The ashes have been falling so far away as Messina, from which Etna was not visible, all the week ___ spent there, nor even from the summits of the mountains _____ above; but this was owing to the cloudy horizon more than to actual distance. Prof. Targioni-Tarzetti who is lately returned from an excursion in Apulia and Sicily, and whose protracted absence was the chief cause of delay in the decision as to the Ent. Society, did nothing in Entomology there, as he writes me ____, first by reason of the horrible weather that he encountered, secondly from the full occupation he had in marine zoology, the results of which research was more satisfactory to him, than ours in the straits of Messina [18] in May-June proved to us. Yours very sincerely Alex H. Haliday the _______ length of Europe and half of Asia besides. Mine here are more luxuriant now, and _____ hence had no frost to try them this winter; so I may hope to have a gay bloom next summer. After what they suffered by the unexampled severity of the preceding winter, I was not surprised that the surviving plants matured only one blossom this year. Wollaston [19], who is just about to be married, and then to start with his bride for another writers sojourn in his dear Madeira, tells me he and Mr Lowe [20] , in this last visit to the Cape Verde islands, planted several species of the genus, which they had brought out from the new Botanic Garden, on ____ islets of that group; and that before they left their susucculent foliage and carpeted what had been mere heaps of dust. We are here again under the reign of rain.It seems as if, with continued ________ , there ___ no limit to the amount of moisture which the neighbouring sea can supply. In consequence of - humidities the vines are ____ with fresh shoots and foliage need the season of _____ need to be de___, as they bleed under the knife. A bad auguring for next year’s crop. Collecting, as you may suppose, is pretty well over; only the last week of November and the ___ suceeding, brought out Rondani’s Chetostoma curvinerve, __ ______ males (a Trypeta with marbled wings); the females are almost unattainable from their habits on apterous, I suppose, _____ them security; though no grovelling on the earth and poking at roots of heath has rewarded me with one. The very few, I ever found, were taken by the sweeping net, I then found it necessary, to fish for them deep at the roots of the shrubs, usually reduced them to a mutilated condition. The very little time I have to give to study, from the - of our extended correspondence - I devote at present to two families of Hymenoptera, of which I hope to have a list of the species of Western Europe ___ future number of the Ent. Soc. Journal. The first number is not likely to contain anything from my pen, unless it should be a notice of the contents of some of the contemporary journals, which the committee have asked for, to fill some space of Miscellaneous notes. You, I hope, have time and health both for study and the writing of the paper you refer to. I confess the misprints are such that I cannot pretend to correct, or make sense out of, all the sentences as they stand, unless I can find a copy of the original Mss. The figure too is disfigured, and at variance with the description that you tell me Poecilobothrus regalis etc. is very unexpected and interesting, and, I doubt not, will lead to a reformation in the distribution of the original genus Dolichopus. I was never quite satisified with the importance given to the greater or less degree of a________ of the hind metatarsus, the transition being or gradual. Give me any directions you can as to the best mode of transmisson of specimens to you at Guben in case of my having obtained some for your present purpose from Turin or Paris either. I remain Yours very faithfully A.H. Haliday
Villa Pisani mar Lucca. Italy July 10, 1868 We did not penetrate into the interior of the island, in fact the month devoted to it did not suffice to carry us the full length of the Eastern side alone, and the visit to Lake Fanaco [21] was left to me to accomplish alone after Dr Wright had sailed for Malta homeward bound. The excursion of our travel to Algeria of which he had entertained the notion was soon dismissed The lack of time alone would have been fatal to it; but besides Dr Dours [22], who knows the country, having been out there in the Medical staff for more than seven uyears, while he sent me the introductions I asked, did not conceal his persuasion that it was too late in the season for us to enjoy the country, or be successful in collecting. Perhaps next winter when as I hope my brother will have two or three months liberty from his military command, to come abroad, we may make that visit, and to the S. E. of Spain which I should desire to see still more. I expect that the Journal of the Ital. Ent. Soc.[23] will admit equal papers in each of the three languages Italian, French and Latin; so that any of our friends in foreign countries who favour whatever communications well have the option easily of not exposing themselves to the disagreeable possibility of mistakes in translation which with the best intentions and ordinary care is I know liable to occur. I have not yet received the quarterly part of the Annals de la Soc. Ent. France. I sent no communciation direct to the Editor, but placed at Dr Signoret’s [[24] disposal, in any way he chose, an old sketch and the remarks which occurred on comparing it with his figure, and description. I see he has presented a paper on _______ which I shall be glad to have seen before publishing as new ____ thing I have found here. I hope before winter to have a paper ready on __ _____ as a revision of the nomenclature of the late M. Heer’s [Oswald Heer] valuable essays in the Vienna Academy Proceedings, and to find some conspicuous species to be honoured with his name; the motives nil ________; for the living, they may establish for themselves titles more humble than the paternity, on con___ of a name, specific or generic. Having since I began this received the old volumes of ___ Bot. Soc. Trans. From Dublin I have referred to your paper on S________ in vol 7 and find no European species corresponding to my Sicilian one. The sp of ____ comes nearer. Of ____ the male has three white bands of abdomen, wings White-hy_____ with colourless veins - abdomen greatly elongate at _ immaculate, wings obs _hyaline with dusky veins joints 3rd following patella of antenna,in both, short and oval. I think I have now a third genus to refer to the little group of which Asteia is the type , independent of ---- which, I believe, is referable rather to it than to Agromyzini. I have no answer from Rondani, therefore will not wait further, but dispatch this, and await your pleasure as to my communication with Bellardi and Bigot . I suppose I possess both the two Italian species of _______ which __ as I took specimens, larger than those of the Val di Lucca, at a considerable elevation in the Val Lys [25] of the Pennine Alps – in fact very close to the great Glacier, which is the feeder of the Lys. I will compare them at a more convenient season and let you know the result. I have got now the last quarterly part of Annales. Soc.Ent . Fr. and have turned--- Lucca, Italy 2 April 1868 My Dear Dr Loew I have received your kind and interesting letter of the inst, and as you must be so much occupied with preparation for your removal from Mesritz, I do not intend to trouble you with many words, or any dis_____, till I know you established in your new home, and till I myself am returned from the other journey I expect to make, in a few days hence, with Westwood and Hewitson , whom I suppose to be now on their way out from England to visit Vesuvius, ___ in active eruption. It is not improbable I may go further, but alone, in to Catania, to take more certain information on the ____ as to the projected visit to Sicily, as to Dr Wright, which he proposes should he be about the end of August; I fear, not only an ineligible…… Continuation of letter for my collecting plan at least, for this I would not regard to much but a _____ one for the parts of the island especially most attractive to him in pursuit of birds, - ______ about Catania and Syracuse. My proceeding on now will depend chiefly on what I have from him on my arrival at Naples. I take the opportunity of writing to Berlin on _______ , to inform you of my plans. It is very interesting what you tell me of the identity of the Pegophila of Malta and Middle Italy, with the specimen of ___ and ______ find Pegophila as a genus of Phaonia in Enderlein, I have no more recent authority to _____. The wasp of a specific character of a single species in a genus, according to the Linnean rule, is no defect – such is the conclusion, I think, I should have come to in a similar case, which Mr Marshall [26] lately proposed to me, - if at had not been that as it concerned a name of my own fabrication. I felt diffident about my competing to give an impartial sentence. Certainly, you could have no reason (even had you suspected the identity of genus) to anticipate the op___ identity of Ever yours. A. H. Haliday Have occasion to write to M.Ghiliani, (Vittore) soon, and from him, in reply, I may perhaps hear something of Bellardi’s present occupations: also of the results of the Magenta circumnavigation (See Filippo de Filippi [27] , as regards Nat. History, all the specimens collected having gone, I believe to the Turin Academy Museum, the general government having given no subvention towards this object. I believe it was since I wrote to you that I had the first letter from Dr Wright after his return to Dublin. All my letters from England speak of the fine summer, and you I suppose have been enjoying the like at Guben, while at this side of the Alps the last fortnight has been diversified with thunder storms, heavy rain and hail which has done some damage to the vintage and other crops. I am only waiting for the appearance of settled fine weather to make a visit of a few days to Florence about the affairs of the Ent. Society and journal, and to see what advantage I can derive from the the Library of the Galileiana Academy of which I was elected a corresponding member some months since. The National library is I may say of no use as to the Nat. Hist. Department. It does not contain even the Transactions of the Naples Academy, those of the Aspromonte [28] Naturalist, nor the Catania [29] Academy. The literary disfunction between Northern and Southern italy which made it easier to find works printed at Naples, in the Libraries of Paris or London, than of Turin and Florence still operates. And judging from the works of the two Costas [Achille Costa and Giuseppe Costa]] , the libraries of Naples were no better off as to the works published out of the Kingdom of the two Sicilies [30] . Rondani says he will get to work at his Ortalidae in August. If you have any list of species occurring to your knowledge in Italy (Sicily and Sardinia included) I am sure it would be useful to him, communicated. My late excursion did not I think yield any notable results as to this group, but I hope to be able to help him by the communication of literary material, your monograph of Typetidae among the rest. Try__ tenesa has occurred to me but once since
Lucca. July — 22nd My Dear Dr Loew Since I wrote to you last, I had a few lines from Rondani, to excuse himself as occupied in preparing for the examinations, and putting off all about the Ortalidae till next month. In answer to my questions about Bellardi [31] , he says it is not easy to have his insects for use. He has obtained the use of Bellardi’s specimens in that family, but with such precautions against any loss, that he was much disposed not to avail himself of the permission. I should however not two circumstances within my own knowledge, which may have something to do with it. I myself had Bellardi’s Dolochopidae and Blephariceridae for a long time, with a view to describe them; and inconsequence of my illness I was unable to make any use of them, and finally, being myself unable, I was obliged to depute the packing them up to send back to him, to a friend, so that I cannot tell how much injury they may have sustained, by their removals, for so often we changed our residence in the _______, nor how far this experience may have indisposed to him for another ______. Secondly Rondani’s own collection, and the insects he sends out, are notoriously in a bad state of preservation, so that Bellardi himself told me, long ago, he never _______ to place a specimen, coming from that source, in his boxes without a quarantine and prolonged fumigation first. If therefore you are disposed to apply to him, I would not have you be deterred by Rondani’s reply, since he has got at least which he asked for. That Bellardi will not put off replying, till he forgets, or thinks it too late and useless, I will not guarantee. I shall probably…