RK-069

[stamped upside down] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections

Racine May 23 - 1855

Dear Bob,

Your package came to hand and I am sorry to say the frogs and salamanders were not kicking - all dead - not enough moisture - the opossom Skins will make a quite good specimens - greatly obliged. You will find the catalogue accompanying — I am sorry you had no skin of the white footed mouse that you find under the trees — I should much prize a specimen for comparison —

I must tell you about my Frogery - for you must know I have a private establishment of this sort — My success is so complete that I can raise frogs, salamanders &c to any extent desired — I spend much time most agreeably observing the behavior of these aquatic pets — Indeed my success is so gratifying, that I must describe it to you — I have a reservoir water tight 3 & 8 ft - into this I transferred a part of a shallow grassy pond with all its wonderful swarm of buisy life — salamanders - frogs - water-beetles the larvea of mosquitoes gnats ephemora dragon flies &c& — in addition to these I transplated a portion of the various aquatic plants found growing in the pond - this vegitable element I consider absolutely indespensible to complete the circle, to purify the water and keep the animals in health — Here I have a miniature world all in the enjoyment of perfect health and activity the gramnivorous feeding on the plants and multiplying abundantly the carnivorous keep up a constant warfare on these and each other to their exceeding enjoyment for war is their trade —

The plants absorbe the carbonic acid gast evolved by animal life - convert the carbon to the material of this growth - (assimilation) and give back the pure life invigorating oxigen -

By this arrangement we have no occasion either to "feed the animals" or change the water merely supply the loss by evaporation. I have six or seven species of frogs and two species of Salamander - but by far the object of the greatest interest to me is the tadpoles of the Salamander lureda (Sager) - I shall be able to give a complete history of the habits - food, mode of reproduction, embryonic changes of this interesting reptile - As this is the largest north america Salamander a faithful record of the tadpole metamorphosis cannot fail to be of the greatest interest to science -

I have made and are still making a full Suit of drawing and painting of their changes -

I have a number of living T. Mandingii in proper quarters and I hope to record something about them not yet know -

Am in the Gray Gopher - (Spurmopheler Franklinii) line got lots - have one for a pet - an interesting chap - a perfect grahamiti - never tastes flesh - more like the wood chuck (Arctonus Monax) than the Strapur Gopher -

Who told you that the little Striper Hyler was (H triceriata)?

Dr. [double underline] Robert Kennicott

Best respect to the D^r and family Yours truly P R Hoy

We never saw the dicentra spectabolis? Should much like a peek

Salamandra symmetrica - red Neems 2 - The other species was too much decayed to identify it Birds - Named as in Nutall ornitholoy - No - 10 Sylvicola canadensis [male symbol] - 13 " acstiva [male symbol] - 29 " maculosa [male symbol] - 9 " virens [male symbol] 22 " Do [female symbol] (or young male) 24 " Blackburniii [female symbol] (or " ") - 20 " icterocephala [male symbol] - 3 " coronata [male symbol] 12 Mistake " Do - 20 - 18 " striata [male symbol] - 11 " ruficapilla [male symbol] - 8 Regulus calendula [female symbol] without the spot a-head - 17 vermivora peregrina [male symbol] rare-fine - 19 Setophage ruticella [male symbol] old - 25 " " [female symbol?] (or young [male symbol]) - 14 vireo gilvus - - 7 Tyrannus acaelicus -

over

- 21 Turdus wilsonii - - 6 Picus varius [male symbol] (injures cherry & peach trees) - 5 Fringilla savona - - 16 " pinus - 11 " georgiana [male symbol] - " Pennsylvania [male symbol] & [female symbol] (2 specimens, no label, largest species)

- 15 Fringa Wilsonii -

You have done pretty well in the Warbler line -

The rail-road is now complete you can come for .50 cents to Racine - come up some day -

PR H