126 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



They were much impressed by the beauty and extent of 

 the view from the rocks at the summit of the mountain, 

 where many towns and villages were plainly visible 

 twenty or thirty miles away. Returning home he had 

 snapping turtle steak for supper, which Baird pronounces 

 "delicious." About this time he began receiving many 

 foreign birds in exchange from Nicholas Aall of Norway, 

 Jacob Sturm of Nuremburg, and others. On a visit to 

 Gettysburg in connection with the printing of his list 

 of birds, he found a live rattlesnake in a cage, and tested 

 the popular superstition about the aversion of poisonous 

 snakes for the white ash tree by stuffing a quantity of 

 the leaves into the cage. But the reptile remained as 

 indifferent as Pet Marjorie's turkey. 



From John J . Audubon to S. F. Baird. 



NEW YORK, Sept. 3<Dth 1845. 

 MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND, 



I received yours of the 26th Instant last evening. I am much 

 obliged to you for what your letter contains about the habits of the 

 Northern Hare; but feel monstrously desirous to see in the flesh 

 the farfamed Catamount! Try to procure one of these for me if 

 possible, and also a silver fox if you can. 



My son John will leave this for the West and South-West, as 

 far as the confines of Texas, about the last of next month, and intends 

 being absent until the first of March. Would you like to go with 

 him, provided you can pay your own expenses? He will take one 

 of our Servant men along to help him in the procuring of Quadrupeds 

 and Birds, of which he hopes to procure some, if not a good number 

 of new Species. 



Victor leaves this for Ph a , Baltimore, and Washington in a few 

 minutes, and you will have to excuse this short answer to your letter. 



Ever your Sincere Friend, 



JOHN J. AUDUBON. 

 Our respects to your Ladies and friends. 



