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Philadelphia 22 April 1855
Robert:
Nuttalls Ornithology cannot be had
here at all. - I was several years getting a copy for
the library of our Academy. - I have a copy of my own
of the first edition only, - but it is not very long since
I saw it in James Browns Catalogue, Boston - I think
in the very last Catalogue issued by him, - it is now
a very scarce book, - one of my reasons for discontinuing
my Birds of California &c is that I intend to get up
a book of the same style a Nuttall -
It is quite remarkable that the White
Crane is so seldom noticed, and specimens are
but rarely procured. -
I should think it quite possible that the
booming of the Prairie Hen, of which you speak is
produced somewhat in the manner of the bass notes
of the bag pipe and that the sacs contained in the
bare spaces on the neck, which I understand to be
inflatable, have something to do with it, - your
opportunities for studying this interesting bird
are apparently excellent and I hope you will keep
notes of everything relating to it - those contained
in your letter are highly interesting - you will, very