W. Knight James an Ernst Haeckel, Colombo, 20. August 1882
Govt. Normal School
Colombo
Aug. 20th 1882
Prof. Haeckel
Jena
My dear Sir,
I must apologize for not answering your letter + communicating with you earlier. I hope now to be able to send you the crocodile eggs in a few weeks. I found the season for laying was later than I expected + hence I was unable to get them earlier. || My collection is now in the North + will if possible put specimens in spirits of wine day by day. I had a box of the eggs sent the other day but unfortunately too many were packed in it + all were more or less broken. I have however put the two or three least injured into spirits. I shall send you also a set of Termes. If there ist anything else I can obtain for you. I shall be glad I can get objects from Nolijama or elsewhere if you require any duplicats ot things you took away. I was also sorry of that you had not time to see me before you left Ceylon as I wished to show you || my collections, anything in which was at your disposal. In had also a large number of living animals some of which I thought you might like to have taken with you. However you may at any time command my services in any Scientific matter + as I have some little knowledge of Natural History I may be able to help you in obtaining specimens or informationa more accurately than most persons here.
Believe me
Faithfully yours
W. Knight James.
a eingef.: or information