RK-080

[stamped] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION [handwritten] 932 [stamp] WASHINGTON D.C.

June 25' 1855

My Dear Robert

I had much pleasure in receiving a letter from your friend Mr. Ashley today, which I shall soon answer

I hope you still continue to have a good time in your operations and only wish I could be along to help. I look forward with vast anticipations to the results of all your operations for the summer, especially to the quadrupeds. get all kinds you can, foxes, raccoons, skunks and all that. It is astonishing how oft we are to neglect common things in the search for rareties I have skins of raccoons from California which I cant determine to be the same or different from ours, for want of specimens!

[page turned written on left side] owls - no musician

I had a very interesting collection from W. J. Shaw the other day, including a fine show of insects. Some plants, birds and mammals. I was particularly struck with three moles he sent, differing from ours in larger size, and silvery bluish tinge. Unfortunately he had removed and not sent the skulls The species a probably Scalops Argentatus of Aud. & Bach. disentered from a Michigan skin and not since seen. Look sharp for this. By the way what kind have you at the grove: very likely this one.

He sent a lead colored gopher, also and, said this was the only kind he had seen Keep sharp look out and enquire of all knowing ones, what colors they have. I strongly suspect the two are distinct; lead colored & brown. A multitude of specimens and observations will alone settle the question.

Very truly yours SF Baird

Robt. Kennicott Chicago Ill

[page turned written along left side of page] Plotus ankinga &c