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University of Mich Ann Arbor 10 Jan 1857
Dear Sir
Your favor of 3d inst was received several days after its date and I embrace the very first op= =portunity to reply as well I can do it at present
Dr Palmer placed in my hands recently the slip from the Prairie Farmer to which you refer as well as the volume of “Transactions” for the library for which the Li= =brarian will send you acknowl= =edgements. It is gratifying to find to find in the west and northwest a few fellow laborers in the de= =lightful feilds of Natural History and for this reason I had in= =tended soon to open a corres= =pondence with you hoping to carry out the very ideas which
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you have now suggested, namely the exchange of observations and specimens. You may be assured that I am very greatly interested in the work of Natural History & you will find me always ready to do any thing in my power to forward the interests common to all naturalists - the working out of local Faunas, the geo= =graphical distrib. of species, &c
It is only the present year that I have occupied my present position & consequently, being a previous non-resident of Mich. I know comparatively little about its Nat. Hist. Since Oct. I have been engaged in working out our Collection of shells of which we have about 2000 species
In regard to our Mammals I have already had some
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correspondence with Prof. Baird but I will send you all the information I can obtain. As some of our specimens were undetermined I have taken some pains to study them since the receipt of your letter & give you a list with remarks, on a separate sheet. Hereafter I shall be able to do more
Specimens of the species which you mention will of course be very acceptable as (excepting Mus leucopus) I know nothing of the animals named as denizens of Mirchigan. The prairies undoubt= =edly furnish many peculiar species
You say you intend visiting Dr. Hoy at Racine. I have no personal acquaintance with him but I shall be glad to have you present him
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my respects. We are all bound together in a common cause & ought to be have as much intercourse as possible. This is especially true of us western men who are obliged too much to get our information about the west through Eastern channels
I remain yours very respectfully A. Winchell
Dr R. Kennicott Chicago Ill.
PS. Dr. Sager wishes me to to acknowl= =edge for him the receipt of your letter & specimen inclosed & to say that my reply embodies all that we both know at present about our mammals
[page turned, stamped on left side] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections
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I shall hereafter be able to make out a more complete list
List of Mammals observed in Michigan by A. Winchell
I believe the opossum is known here but I cannot at this moment ascertain the fact
Vespertilis. I have never examined the bats and we have none in the Museum
Condylura longicaudatas Rich. Our species agrees with Richardsons description of this but not with DeKay's description of C. Cristatus though he says the two species are the same
Condylura macroura Harlan
Scalops aquaticus (canadensis Rich.) I have observed no shrews
Ursus americanus Pallas Common further north
Procyon lotor Minn.
Meles labradoria Rare in this part of Mich. I have only seen one
Gulo luscus Godman