Letter from James Sowerby to Mrs Pratten

Botanic Gardens
Regent’s Park
August 23: 1852

Madam

It always gives me
pleasure to hear the
name mentioned of any
of my Father’s Friends
and I am glad to be able
to give them or their Relative,
any information.

The animals you have
sent me are not Slugs
have neither horns nor


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shields, Moreover they
have legs. Upon further
examination you will
find they are the larvae
of a kind of Sawfly,
I do not know what
Species but if you have
leisure to place a few
in a Jar or Bottle and
feed them with fresh
leaves they will not be
long before they change
[Long horizontal line]
(Tye [?] a piece of gauze over the mouth)



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and when the Fly comes
out perhaps you may
be able to learn the
name of it.

I remain Madam
your obedient Servant
J. De C. Sowerby

Mrs Pratten


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J. De C. Sowerby Son of
Sowerby the author of English
Botany [illegible] _ he is himself
a great Naturalist.