102 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



times as large as the largest we have about here and in bunches of 

 from three to six. Persimmons also in the greatest Profusion. On 

 Wednesday morning last Alick & I went over to Bloomfield to Mr. 

 M'Intyre's. Reached there at 5, P. M. At 8 that evening, went 

 out Coon hunting with Sam Creigh, a son of old Dr. C., with several 

 other persons. We treed a coon, but on cutting down the tree, the 

 animal was gone. The tree was a large oak 2^2 feet in diameter, and 

 they supposed it had got crushed under it some how. We got home 

 at I o'clock, got up at 6. A. M. of Thursday and, after breakfast, 

 went out after Pheasants, but as is always the case, there were none 

 where they had been abundant only a few days before. We heard 

 a few fly but got no chance at them. Went out again after dinner 

 with an old Pheasant shooter and his dog, but met with no better 

 success. Came home at 5^ and at 6^2 went out coon hunting again 

 with the same party. We walked about 15 miles over about the 

 roughest country I ever saw, miles of Laurel bushes, rocks, precipices 

 &c. and caught a Rabbit! got back at 2. and got up at 6. again and 

 at 8 Started for home by Landisburg Stopping at Wagner's Gap 

 to gather Chestnuts, which are in greater abundance than I ever 

 saw them before. Gathered 5 quarts in a short time, and saw three 

 large flocks of Pigeons about 100 in each, flying through the Chestnuts, 

 probably after the fruit. It was too late however to stop to shoot 

 them: So we came home, going from the Carlisle side of Wagner's 

 Gap to the Bridge over the creek in 55 minutes & to town in 85. 

 This is all the news I know of. Uncle Penrose Started off with the 

 rest at 7 o'clock this morning. 30 Write soon & let me know about 

 your journey home. 



Yours affectionately, 



SPENCER F. BAIRD. 



About this time Baird spent much time preparing 

 "blue print" photographs of leaves with bichromate of 

 potash. By this time the collection of birds made by 

 the brothers had become somewhat noted among the 

 people of the region, and was frequently shown to 

 strangers as one of the local attractions. 



30 For Washington. 



