CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 45 



brother last year commenced the study of our Birds, and after some 

 months I joined him. He has gone elsewhere to settle and I am left 

 alone. I have been much assisted however by Dr. A. Foster 6 of 

 this place in various ways, and should the above Flycatcher happen 

 not to have been described, it would gratify me very much to have 

 it honored with his name. 



The contention about this bird which ensued is fully 

 described by Professor Deane in the paper referred to 

 in the footnote, and it was finally described as new, with 

 another, in a paper by the two brothers, being their 

 first printed contribution to scientific literature. 7 



Audubon replied promptly to this communication in 

 a letter from which the following paragraphs are extracted : 



Extracts from a letter from John J. Audubon in New York, to Spencer 

 F. Baird in Carlisle, dated June 13, 184.0. 



On my return home from Charleston, S. C., yesterday, I found 

 your kind favor of the 4th instant in which you have the goodness 

 to inform me that you have discovered a new species of flycatcher, 

 and which, if the bird corresponds to your description, is, indeed, 

 likely to prove itself hitherto undescribed, for, although you speak 

 of yourself as being a youth, your style and the descriptions you have 

 sent me prove to me that an old head may from time to time be 

 found on young shoulders! . 



Being on the eve of publishing the Quadrupeds of our Country, 

 I have thought that you might have it in your power to procure 

 several of the smaller species for me, and thereby assist me con- 

 siderably. Please to write me again soon, as I must resume my 

 travels in 8 or 10 days. 



6 Alfred Foster, M.D., born 1790, died 1847. A graduate of 

 Dickinson College in 1809. On his tombstone in the Carlisle ceme- 

 tery is inscribed: "Purity of mind and integrity of purpose graced 

 his great attainments in Science and Literature; and his character 

 happily blended the guilelessness of childhood with the wisdom of 

 mature years." (Note by Ruthven Deane in the Auk for April, 

 1906, page 199.) 



7 Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 

 i, pp. 283-285, 1843. 



