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1127
671

Washington Oct. 8. 1856

Dear Robert

I have just had some talk
with Mr. Brown, agricultural clerk
of the Patent office about an article
for the next report on the quad-
rupeds injurious to vegetation, and
he seemed well inclined to have
one. They pay well for such things
and I want you to go to work
and write as full a memoir
as you can in the habits of the
mice, squirrels, gophers, hares, wood-
chucks &c, especially as regards
their injuries to crops, and to the
land. Give all notices of reproduc-
tive phenomena, number of broods
and of young, character of food, &c,
[illegible] of ravages and the like.
Although there is no positive prom-
ise to accept it, yet I think it will
be done, and you may get a
hundred dollars or thereabouts
for it – if it makes 15 or 20 pages.

This will be much better
than publishing in our report, or
that of the Phila. Academy, as
the pay will be positive and
the circulation much better.