Record Data
Source citation
Spencer Fullerton Baird to John James Audubon, June 4, 1840, Carlisle, PA, in Ruthven Deane, "The Unpublished Letters of John James Audubon and Spencer F. Baird," The Auk 23, no. 2 (April 1906), 200-201.
Type
Letter
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Transcription adapted from "The Unpublished Letters of John James Audubon and Spencer F. Baird," by Ruthven Deane
Adapted by Rebecca Solnit, Dickinson College
Transcription date
Transcription
The following transcript has been adapted from "The Unpublished Letters of John James Audubon and Spencer F. Baird" (1906).
New York, June 13, 1840
Dear Sir,
On my return home from Charlseton S.C. yesterday, I found your kind favor of the 4th inst. in which you have the goodness to inform me that you have discovered a new species of fly-catcher, and which, if the bird corresponds to your description, is, indeed, likely to prove itself hitherto undescribed, for although you speak of yourself as being a youth, your style and the descriptions you have sent me prove to me that an old head may from time to time be found on young shoulders!
I wish you would send me one of the stuffed specimens as well as the one preserved in spirits, and wish you also to rest assured that if the little Muscicapa stands as a nondescript that I shall feel pleased to name it after your friend.
I never have seen a specimen of the male of the Cape May warbler with the upper part of the head pure black. Have you compared the Regulus with the description of Regulus Cuvieri? Could you not send me your bird to look at? Being on the eve of publishing the Quadrupeds of our Country, I have thought that you might have it in your power to procure several of the smaller species for me, and thereby assist me considerably. Please to write to me again soon, as I must resume my travels in 8 or 10 days. Have you seen a copy of the small edition of The Birds of American which I am now publishing? Believe me, dear sir,
With good wishes, your obt. sert.,
John J. Audubon
