TRANSCRIPTION
[p.1]
Newcastle
24th Feby. 1871
To Pro. Newton
Dear Sir.
I am busy with a Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland & Durham for the Transactions our Natural History Transactions and am anxious to see how such local lists are framed — Can you point out to me any such list which the plan of which I might safely take as a guide.
What arrangement would you recommend me to follow? I am inclined to that of Temminck with some slight modifications –
In a catalogue of this sort it seems unnecessary to divide the genera to the extent that might be proper in a general work – Your opinion in this matter will much oblige –
Yours truly | J Hancock [signature]
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NOTES
1. Professor Alfred Newton FRS (1829-1907), ornithologist and Prof. of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at Cambridge University from 1866-1907.
2. John Hancock published his ‘A Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham’ in the Transactions of the Natural History Society of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland and Durham, Volume 6 in 1874.
3. Coenraad Jacob Temminck (1778-1858) was a Dutch aristocrat and zoologist. His important ornithological works including Manuel d’ornithologie ou tableau systématique des oiseaux qui se trouvent en Europe. Parts 1 – 4, 1820-40.
John Hancock owned a copy of the second edition of Temminck’s work which he presented to the library of the Natural History Society.
To read Newton’s reply to Hancock, please click here