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Bookplate inserted; inscribed in black ink on front endpaper: “To Bob and Pat Menzies with affectionate regards from Malcolm MacDonald 1950.” Includes a letter from the author on letterhead of the Commissioner-General for the U.K. in South-East Asia to Menzies, dated 17 September 1950, presenting the book, typed: “My dear Bob, I am sending you a copy of my book called “The Birds of Brewery”, written by a mediocre ornithologist and tenth-rate writer called Malcolm MacDonald. I do not pretend for a moment that you will enjoy the book – or even read it. But the illustrations (for which I am not responsible) are very attractive, and you may like glancing at them. In any case, the book comes as a token of my ever-green affection for you and Pat – and now Heather -, a quality which I regard as even more important than literally grace or ornithological erudition. [/] I intended to give you the book as a souvenir of your visit to Bukit Serene some weeks ago, but decided that it would then be an unwarranted imposition on your limited weight of baggage. So I made a mental note to send the book to you on your return to Canberra. [/] It was a great treat to have you here. I do hope that you will come again, to have a rather longer “look-see” at Malaya, bringing Pat and Heather with you. Actually I take wing for England tomorrow, to join in the London discussions on Economic Development in southern Asia. After the Conference I expect to fly to Canada, to see Audrey and the children, but I shall be back in Singapore by about the end of October [..] so any weekend. [/] So any week-end or week, after that will suit me splendidly. [/] One of the best things that has happened to me for a long time is seeing you and Pat again, after too long an interval of time. [handwritten] With affectionate greetings to you all. Yours ever Malcolm.” Also inscribed in black ink on front endpaper: “To Bob and Pat Menzies with affectionate regards from Malcolm MacDonald.”