94 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



to the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia for 

 publication. Baird was studying earnestly at French, 

 German and the calculus. He also read a number of 

 standard works of fiction in French and German inci- 

 dental to his study of the languages. In April he began to 

 teach a small class of girls in geography, arithmetic, 

 botany, and history. His first pupils were Lydia Biddle, 

 Lydia Baird, Jane Alexander and Anna Reed. The class 

 met daily except Saturday, during the week. When it 

 came to the day for Botany he took his class into the 

 fields to make practical application of his instruction, 

 and in later college work he followed this plan with his 

 students in the natural sciences. He had joined the 

 Musical Society some time previously and now did more 

 or less practising, and joined the church choir in their 

 rehearsals. July I3th he took his diploma of A. M. in 

 course, at College Commencement, with several others of 

 his class. 



From Spencer F. Baird to William M. Baird. 



CARLISLE, May 23, 1843 

 DEAR WILL, 



I send you the result of the last 7 days. By examining the list 

 you will find some good Birds. Last Tuesday, I went towards the 

 North Mt. up & down the valley, shot 4 Lincoln finches in different 

 places, a pair of Blue Grosbeaks, at the very place where we three 

 shot them before; and some other birds of less interest. Last Saturday 

 Will Penrose & I went down the creek through Tempe & the Bottoms. 

 Shot a Traill's Flycatcher, and a very handsome Mourning warbler, 

 Male, on the same thorn tree above the ist Bottom as the one I 

 shot one last spring. There is something very curious in this thing 

 of the same species being found always in the same place, as the 

 Mourning Warbler, Blue Grosbeak and others. Yesterday I went 

 out to Yellow Breeches creek and up to Ege's forge. The wind was 

 very high and I could see no birds. I shot a Lincoln finch however. 



