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[printed letterhead]
No. [handwritten] 1489 [printed] Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, D. C. [handwritten] December 5 [printed] 18 [handwritten] 57

My Dear Robert:

I was very sorry to learn by
your letter of the 22, that you
had had so much difficulty
about getting money to come
here. with. As far as regards
the collections, the delay of
some months will make no
difference as far as I am con-
cerned, as I am so busy at
my big report on birds that I can
scarcely. expect to touch the
reptiles for some time to come;
My chief concern has been to
have you lose no time your
medical studies. as the sooner
you are provided with a definite
profession, the better. If therefore
there is any decided indication