CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 109 



dear Will. Dr. Morton has got a new Species of Hippopotamus 

 from Monrovia, the scull I mean, which he is going to publish. It 

 is about ]/^ the size of the others species & differs materially in the 

 teeth. It has been too cold to go about hunting guns & Powder, as 

 yet, but I will do so this afternoon or tomorrow. We have had the 

 coldest weather here I experienced for some long time, 8 the other 

 morning. I think you had better not say any thing about the birds 

 I got, to Townsend or any body else for reasons I will tell you of 

 hereafter. Write as soon as you get this, and do not show it to any 

 one as it is so badly written. Give my love to everybody. All well 

 here. Uncles William & Ned are expected down to day. 



Yours affec 



SPENCER F. BAIRD 



On the 1 5th of February he left Philadelphia with his 

 sister Rebecca, and went to Reading, where he visited 

 relatives and made copies of articles in books not acces- 

 sible at Carlisle. On the 23 rd they returned to Harris- 

 burg and reached Carlisle on the 24th. On the 3rd of 

 February, his 2ist birthday, he notes that he measured 

 6 feet and 5/8 of an inch in his bare feet and weighed 

 158 pounds. 



