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[stamped] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION [written] 217 [stamped] WASHINGTON D.C.

[handwritten] February 14, 1856

My Dear Robert

I have allowed your letter to remain unanswered for some days in hopes of finding Mayne Reeds Hunters Feast and thus understanding more particularly his positions in regard to Closet Naturalists. Capt. Reed writes charming stories, and has a marvellous facility for appropriating the labors of others, but as you suggest, what has he done that entitles him to sneer at any class of Naturalists. As far as my experience of his writings goes, he has never added a single fact to Nat. History before unknown; and shines entirely on the capital of others, worst of all, never acknowledging his indebtedness in any way.

For my part I never met with a closet naturalist as understood by men like Mayne Reed. We certainly never have had any in America. No closet writer, that is man who records observations and investigations, but has served a long

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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apprenticeship in the field, and thereby enabled him to appreciate the labors of fellow workers, by encluding them with his own (giving due credit). And even if the collecting of the specimens and facts in any investigation be due entirely to he who gives this material to others to investigate, it does not detract in the slightest degree from the merit of the patient worker whose name must always be associated with the first discovery and announcement of the facts. If the feild laborer be able himself to do the closet work well and good; it is much best that he should do it; if however he prefer to continue his life in the fields and woods, and leave the drudgery to others, Capt. Reed should not object.

As to classification of Mammals by the teeth, no one makes this the exclusive basis; but the dental and osteological structure are so convenient as to be most prominently brought forward. If Capt. Reed has any better arrangement let him bring it forward, but what is he to do with and for the fossil species which can only

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[stamped] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION [written] 217 [stamped] WASHINGTON D.C.

[handwritten] be represented by tooth and bone,

I am glad to have your daguerrotype and will send mine whenever I get time to go to a daguerrian gallery. In the absence however you may figure to yourself a rather lanky, angular specimen of humanity, with red beard, rough hair, crooked legs and the biggest feet in Washington, wearing a white long coat as well known here as Horace Greely - eyes pea green and age somewhat under sixty. Ask your father if I have not hit the nail.

If you will give me the Franklin Spermophile article with any additions, I will be glad to add it to my report on the subject, and I would be glad to have a full biography of all your mammals. Better publish these first in the Prairie Farmer, and send me an extra copy, cut out the slip and enclose in letter. I dont like to mutilate the regular file by culling our paper I have never seen your Franklin

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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spermophile article: the number containing it having probably miscarried.

So by all means write the article on the mice; it will be very diserable. I am not now prepared to give you the names of the species, not having finished with these families. but you are probably right with the name of the Arvicola oneida. If the larger species one has a pure grayish lead colored belly; this is A. riparius; the other has a decided rusty tinge to the more whitish belly; the under part of the tail is also quite white, conspecuously whiter and more hairy than in the other. This is the Arvicola austerus of Leconts whether the same with A. hirsutis I know not. Of the long tailed mice, all the wild species of which belong to the genus Hesperomys. Refer to them as you do in your letter, and I can afterwards put in the correct entries. I am in no hurry about the article; five or six months hence if you cant give it sooner, will do, although If

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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[stamped] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION [written] 217 [stamped] WASHINGTON D.C.

[handwritten] we had it in May, it might possibly be in time for our report.

By all means send the Mus michiganense and any [illegible] on its habits to the Academy.

The gopher of Middle States is Geomys bursarius; it is not found in the southern states where it is replaced by G. pineti which has not yet been found out of Georgia. Florida & Alabamas Thomomys is the other genus. The two together contain ten or twelve species.

The fact about the glass snakes at Bloomington is very interesting. I never saw one alive.

Plectrophenax lapponicus and nivalis are both well known European birds.

As heretofore promised I enclose draft for $15.00 to pay the freight & miscellaneous charges You have against us and make matters square: please return the receipt.

Ever Yours SF Baird

Robt. Kennicott West Northfield, Il.

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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