262 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



history to be a crime, and if I am hung for it, I shall still say the 

 sentence was just. I say to you in strict confidence that I expect 

 to come back next winter and go as high as Khartum in 16 degrees, 

 and if possible even further. Therefore, send me not only spirits, 

 but vessels. Casks are not good in this dry and cooperless land. 

 Strong glass with wide mouths and good corks, bladders or some other 

 mode of making them tight, I should prefer, but I think good tins 

 proved beforehand would answer well. The trouble or expense of 

 collection I don't mind, but the materials of preservation can't be 

 got here. Let me have everything forthwith, not next winter, but 

 now . You'll get this in June. Don't wait till cold weather, but send 

 your traps to lasigi & Goddard in a month at most to be sent by first 

 ship to Smyrna, otherwise they will come too late. I will look out 

 sharp for salamanders and if I find a new one, you shall name it 

 Salamandr ileus Bairdii or the like. Don't make the name good 

 Latin. The naturalists won't be able to construe it if you do. Don't 

 let your husband work himself to death, Mary. Take away his 

 tools and let him journey. Wasn't that a good word I made in my 

 last letter? "Snakery"? Put it into all the scientific glossaries and 

 things. I like your plan of exchange, but am sorry your time should 

 be taken up with clerk-work. The personnel of the Smithsonian 

 ought to be increased. It is by no means large enough. What is 

 Jewett doing? I have not heard from him for a long time. I have 

 many things to say to you, my son, but on Monday I go in pursuit 

 of the children of Israel as Pharaoh did, and have no time. Go on 

 as you have begun, but don't undertake too much, nor waste these 

 golden hours of your precious youth on matters of mere routine. Let 

 the dead bury their dead, but do thou fulfil thy vocation. Mary 

 knoweth that she is dear unto me even as thou, and I thank her for 

 her kind expressions of interest in her ancient friend. And now I 

 bid ye both heartily farewell. 



Your true well-wisher, 



GEORGE P. MARSH. 



P.S. I send a box of shells and living snails with a dried croco- 

 dile's egg. The palm fruit in the same box is for Doctor Wislizenus. 

 The snails are from the Desert. 



