Dresden
Dresden, Swinger, 1 July 1895
DR. JOSE RIZAL
Dapitan, Mindanao
Philippine Islands
MY DEAR FRIEND,
Your remittance of January reached me at the end of May and I hasten to tell you that the green snake is not at all poisonous but it is an absolutely harmless snake (Deudrophilis) that I saw on trees. Over there there is a very dangerous green snake but it is relatively shorter, has a large head and with keel-shaped scales. The kumi fish is very well known; its Latin name is Echeneis and it holds on to ships with its head plate (hence the German name on Schiffshalter) or also to other fishes, like the shark. It is of a parasite and there are specimens of large size. It is a kind of mackerel. Among the other objects that you so kindly sent us there are some of special interest and I beg you not to stop gathering specimens. One always finds something valuable. Only the packing must be done very carefully, putting every object separately so that it will not damage the others.
Please tell me if the cup was made in Mindanao or imported.
Dr. Heller thanks you for the insects; he wants above all coleoptera in alcohol. The butterflies were badly damaged.
In exchange I will send you some books, but not knowing your present address, I shall wait for news of you before sending them.
Hoping that you are in good health, I am, my dear friend and colleague, with my best wishes,
Yours very faithfully,
B. MEYER
04-857 [Misc.]