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[stamp]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
[written] 759
[stamp] WASHINGTON D.C.

May 27' 1855

My Dear Robert

I received your letter of the
17' today, and answer it at once al-
though the collection of snakes
announced, has not yet arrived.
By the way I do not understand
why it takes a letter from 6 to 10
days to come from Chicago.

I have now little or no doubt
that the new Regina is R. lebera
R. grahamii. The specimen des-
cribed in serpent catalogue was
a very young specimen, and lacked
the row of spots on the belly.
This is however nothing: several allus
species sometimes having a median
row of spots and sometimes not. You
will doubtless find more novelties
however and at any rate if you
prefer, we can call new snake
No. 1. after Dr. Kirtland instead
of R. Kennicott!

You need not send any of
the common garter snakes, such
as you can get at The Grove. But
in Western Illinois on Rock
River particularly you will find
Ptyophis Sayi, (Ball snake)
Scotophis vulpinus, and other
different species. Send any of
these from time to time that

[written on top of page sideways (right)]
May 28' 5