Letter from Major-General Sir John Bennett Hearsey to David William Mitchell regarding pheasants and other rare birds for the Zoological Society of London

Correspondence between John Houston, David William Mitchell and the South Australian Banking Company regarding the sale of birds and a request by Prince Albert to bring a Platypus, Lyre Tailed Pheasant and Black Mackaw to the Zoological Society of London

Correspondence between James Thompson, Head Keeper at London Zoo, and David William Mitchell regarding the expense to carry out the experiment of rearing mammals and birds in the Hill Country for transmission to Enland, and the transmission of a collection of Himalayan pheasants to the Zoological Society of London

Salmon Fisheries Office
4, Old Palace Yard
Westminster S.W.

Jan 24 1870

Your Royal Highness

I am really most obliged to you for your kindness in sending me the most interesting paper showing that a cross can be obtained between the Wapiti and the Red Deer. This is a step in advance and I will write a Leader about it in 'Land & Water' advising Scotch proprietors to try the experiment. I myself have no doubt that you will obtain a cross between Reeves' pheasant and the common pheasant and I fancy they will be exceedingly beautiful birds, but these Hybrids will not I think breed again. I am communicating with Mr. Barnes about the Sea Birds and I shall do my best to prevent the Association being broken up.

With thanks for all
your Kindness
Yours most obedient
Frank Buckland

Salmon Fisheries Office
4, Old Palace Yard
Westminster S.W.

Feb [10] 1870

Your Royal Highness

I owe you many apologies for not having written to you before to report the result of my examination of the dead Reeves pheasant. I found that the cause of death was acute inflammation of the lungs in other respects the bird was quite healthy I head from Mr. Menzies that the other pheasants are at Sandpit and dying. They should at once be removed to a dryer and a warmer place or I fear you loose more of them

Yours most
obedient and obliged

Frank Buckland

H.R.H. Prince Christian

Salmon Fisheries Office
4 Old Palace Yard
Westminster S.W.

April 9 1870

Your Royal Highness

I must apologise for not having written to you before. I published a chapter on 'Gapes in Pheasants' in 'Land & Water' but we can not find it. I enclose you Mr. Bartlett's note to me on the subject which I think contains the information you require.
I have got Bartlett to write me an article on Water Fowl especially for Your Royal Highness's benefit. It is published in 'Land & Water' to-day and I trust will be of service to you. I have ordered the numbers of 'Land & Water' about the Hudson Bay furs to be sent to you

I remain
Yours most obedient

Frank Buckland

Salmon Fisheries Office
4 Old Palace Yard
Westminster S.W.

Jan 13 1873

3.00 om

Your Royal Highness

I am much obliged for your letter just received. Dr [Vougar/Zougar?] arrived from Switzerland Friday night with 100,000 eggs of great Lake Trout and was very busy all day Saturday sending them away to different people I should be most obliged if you would kindly always write me
37 Albany St
Regents Park
not at the office. The Pheasant is come I will report on him after dissection to you R.H. I shall be delighted to come to Windsor any day this week, your R.H. may appoint after Wednesday

Yours most obedient

Frank Buckland

H.R.H. Prince Christian
Please write to
37 Albany St
Regents Park
and give me your orders

Salmon Fisheries Office
4 Old Palace Yard
Westminster S.W.

Friday
Jan 17 1873

Your Royal Highness

I have made an anatomical examination of your pheasant and have reported on it in 'Land & Water' tomorrow Jan 18th. I will come to Windsor if your R.H. wishes any day, week if you will kindly give me notice. I have just received a basket with four pheasants allow me to thank you very much indeed for your great kindness

Yours most
obliged

Frank Buckland

I am going tomorrow with the Captain of an Arctic Whaling Ship to the Board of trade see if we can not get a treaty made between Norway, Denmark and England to prevent the fearful destruction of young Seals in March

Salmon Fisheries Office
4 Old Palace Yard
Westminster S.W.

Dec 22 1869

Your Royal Highness

I have seen Mr. Bartlett of the Zoological about your pheasants
1st He quite agrees with me that dampness is the cause of the malady and that therefore if it be possible the birds should be removed to a dryer place
2 He agrees with me that the place where they are confined should be roofed over, if the birds can not be removed.
3 He thinks that they should have pepper corns and that the person who feeds them should mix up some pepper corns in the food if they will not eat the pepper corns placed for them to pick up
4 We think that gravel is better than turf but that the best thing for them to walk on would be old brick and mortar rubbish - Mr Lee will make enquiries about the mole skins for them. The best man to dress them is Mr [Rulich] 8 Bettisland Street Hoxton. You can easily get enough for a waistcoat this year.

Your Royal Highness
Most Obedient

Frank Buckland

Correspondence between L G Brown and George Soper Cansdale regarding a donation of a Silver Pheasant to the Zoological Society of London