LIFE AT CARLISLE 113 



have got some new ideas from it, which I will communicate hereafter. 

 I will just mention however that he says positively that both the 

 Hirundo rustica and the rufa inhabit this country. That during a 

 three years residence in New York state, he was familiar with both. 

 The Rustica builds in chimneys & constructs a different nest from 

 the other species. It has also a longer body & the usual broad band 

 of black on the throat. Keep a sharp look out for this bird. I sent 

 the birds on, Last Wednesday. They all went in your Cape May 

 box. Mother says not to forget to answer her letter soon. How 

 comes on the Schuylkill A. Expedition. Yours aff'ly 



SPENCER F. BAIRD 



Old Miller told me he saw three Swallow-tailed Hawks flying 

 over his house last fall. He was very close to them. 



In July he began his correspondence with John Edward 

 Gray, Keeper of the British Museum. On the nth his 

 cousin and companion on shooting expeditions, William 

 Penrose, graduated from Dickinson College with honors. 

 Baird at this time, beside his ornithological work, reading 

 of English classics and busy exchanges with American 

 and foreign collectors of birds, was digging hard at 

 German, reading Schiller and other noted writers. He 

 was also keeping up an active correspondence with Dr. 

 Brewer and Dr. Morris. He was on Brewer's instance 

 elected a corresponding member of the Boston Society 

 of Natural History. 



The following interesting and characteristic letter 

 from his grandmother is preserved: 



From Mrs. Lydia Spencer Biddle to Spencer F. Baird. 



CARLISLE, July 24th, 1844. 



Enclosed, Dear Spencer, is four dollars to purchase the Dictionary 

 you mentioned to me, as being necessary to your progress in French 

 and matters of science. Had you wanted any article of gratification 

 8 



