| Description | As Professor [Thomas Henry] Huxley has resigned as President of the Royal Society, Parker thinks he ought to tell Foster about the attempts to work out the embryology of Sphenodon [tuatara]. As he told Huxley a year ago, they got a number of specimens divided between them, with [Algernon Phillips Withiel] Thomas having most, because of the better climate in Auckland. Parker's reptiles refused to eat and many died during winter, but he still has six. One female appears to have increased in circumference and he hopes [for eggs]. Thomas agreed to go to the island again, which he has now done and Parker encloses the letter describing the visit. He was disappointed in not getting embryos but the trip was not altogether fruitless. Parker has been writing a little about anatomy. He has several people looking for apteryx eggs, but these are difficult to get. He is still offering rewards for eggs of Callorhinchus, but without success. He hopes to be able to send a better report next time.
Parker was awarded a grant of £75 from the Royal Society's Donation Fund, in 1884, to acquire tuatara, apteryx, and other specimens, with another £25 available if necessary. |