i86 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



the Smithsonian for publication in the volumes of the Contributions. 

 In connection with this Prof. Agassiz spoke to me of the preparation 

 of a monograph of the fish of this country also to be presented to the 

 Smithsonian Institution. I agree to the proposition that the engrav- 

 ings on stone for both these memoirs should be prepared by the 

 artists now in the employment of Prof. Agassiz, provided that the 

 work can be done as cheaply as by other artists who might be em- 

 ployed. The professor also mentioned to me your desire of having 

 your illustrations prepared by the same artists. To this I have no 

 objection, and I shall be pleased to learn that you have made an 

 arrangement by which the Ichthyology of our country will be more 

 fully developed. You may be assured that the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion will afford you every facility in the way of publication compatible 

 with its limited means and with the plan of organization which has 

 been adopted. 



With my best wishes for your continued success in the prose- 

 cution of your interesting researches, I remain very truly, 



Your obt. Serv. 



JOSEPH HENRY. 



About this time, with his students and friends, Baird 

 was using his scanty leisure investigating the fossil con- 

 tents of caves not only near Carlisle, but wherever such 

 caves were reported and within reach. 



These bones in later years afforded much of interest 

 to paleontologists. 



October 28, 1848, he received the honorary degree of 

 M.D. from the Philadelphia College of Medicine. 



March 28, 1849, he went to Washington and besides 

 meeting Agassiz and many other scientific friends, had 

 long conferences with Professor Henry, in which it is 

 probable he explained many of his plans for research. 

 As is customary in such cases he was requested to write 

 a letter explanatory of his proposals in order that they 

 might be officially on record. 



