RK-192

1206

Smithsonian Washington Oct. 20. 56

Dear Robert I was truly glad to hear of your success in taking the prizes, and still more of the honorable and just dispositon of them I wish they were ten times as many

I want the striped squirrels or Spermophilis very much to convince the skeptical that Dr Hoy was not wrong when he called them carnivorous. The Franklin's Marmot is the most Bloodthirsty fellow I ever saw. I would also like all the different squirrels, Fox, black, gray - red: particularly the two former. Any live wild mice, moles, or shrews, weasels - the like would be acceptable.

Please get me just as many more Arvicolae in alcohol as you can. I have not half enough from Illinois. I worked at

[page turned, stamped on right side] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections

Arvicolae all summer and came to no conclusion thereon for want of specimens. So much I ascertained, that the large one with a cinnamon tint to the belly is A. auslerus; and the small one with very short tail is either A. scalopsoides or A. apella. but many specimens are necessary to determine the question. There are two other species not identified. So do hammer away at them and collect both skins - and alcoholics

Your idea of the Nat. Hist. Society is a good one, but I think you would be the best man for the management of the specimens. - Curator. Let Prof. Andrews be Secretary. You ought to be the paid one

Send the Florida shells when you have a convenient opportunity - no hurry.

The black bellied skin is probably a variety merely of the Fox sq. Not a cross with the black.

Yours ever S.F. Baird

Robt. Kennicott Illinois