Note relating to bird specimens and shells [by Edward Sabine]

Information

Scope & content: Written from St Thomas's [Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe]

The birds were killed at St Thomas's in May and June, except for the female francolin, which is from Accra [Ghana] and the small blue bird ('without legs'), which is from Senegal; they also saw at St Thomas's a coot, a swallow and an eagle; he has preserved many specimens of the smaller birds in spirits, which he has not packed up; the leather ornaments are Mandingo [also known as Mandinka] and were obtained for him from the Bulloms [Bullom people]; if Mrs Kater [Mary Frances Reeve Kater, wife of Henry Kater, inventor of Kater's pendulum, which Edward Sabine used] would like any of the shells they would make a good collection; 'there is a bottle in the jar'