258 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



therefore to let no practicable opportunity slip of getting skulls, 

 and if possible without too much trouble, skeletons of mammals. 

 Skulls, at any rate, procure wherever you may be. Thus you may 

 meet with Camels, Jackals, Hyenas, Wild Sheep and Goats, Ibex, 

 Antelopes, Felidae of all kinds, Bears, and all else. We want wolves, 

 foxes, and dogs to settle the question of unity of the human race. 

 Get skulls of any and all well marked varieties of dogs, especially 

 if peculiar to the country in which they may occur. I will not par- 

 ticularize more, as everything is wanted, domestic or ferine. Don't 

 trouble yourself about birds, unless you can get them as well as not. 

 Any insect you can procure will be acceptable to American Ento- 

 mologists. Among reptiles, try hard for Salamanders. You may 

 find new species, or if not, then some very rare ones. I have nearly 

 all those of Northern and Middle Europe, and want the Mediterranean 

 ones. Fresh-water fishes are most important, and least known. I 

 would like skins of the smaller and medium mammalia; the more 

 diminutive of these may be put in spirits. 



I have had much pleasure in making the acquaintance of Dr. 

 Wizlizenus. He appears to be a man of true science, and one who is 

 well worth knowing. Mrs. W. is blooming as a rose. I never saw 

 her look half so well and so says Mary; but she does not come up to 

 our dear Mrs. Marsh. Please give her my warmest love, filial and 

 fraternal. How much we all wish to see her, and earnestly we all 

 hope for her restoration to health. 



I have written to lasigi and Goddard to know when they send 

 out a vessel to Smyrna. I will forward the keg of alcohol by the first 

 opportunity. Do write soon and furnish one of your good long 

 instructive and funny letters. 



Most affectionately yours, 



S. F. BAIRD. 



From John Cassin to Spencer F. Baird. 



PHILADA. 12, March, 1851. 

 DEAR BAIRD, 



. . . Stephens and I are very busy getting up a lot of the 

 greatest nonsense you ever saw "Comic natural history of the Human 

 race" I will send you the second No. which will soon be out it will 



