THE YOUNG PROFESSOR 139 



science, in extended views of classification, and arrangement of analo- 

 gies, affinities and relationships, unable to estimate the value of new 

 discoveries and new ideas. The zoological collections of greatest 

 reputation throughout the world are all such as have men of this 

 character at their head. They reflect reputation and renown mutu- 

 ally on each other. Ruppel at Frankfurt, Lichtenstein at Berlin, 

 Sundevall at Stockholm, Schlegel at Leyden, are all men of this 

 character. I would be obliged to you for a copy of the Catalogue 

 if you have one to spare. 11 



From Spencer F. Baird to William M . Baird. 



CARLISLE, June 15, 1846. 

 DEAR WILL, 



I have been most busily engaged for two weeks in superintending 

 the construction of three new bird cases and the alteration of the 

 old, so that I hope now to have room enough to store away all the 

 individuals in our collection. These are made in the best manner, 

 and I think will most effectually keep out insects. Each case is 6^ 

 feet high containing 6 drawers, each drawer measuring inside 36 x 18 

 x 10^2 inches. There is a tray in each so constructed that I can 

 take it out without the drawer. There are very close panel doors 

 in front. There is a space of i^ inch between the drawers and the 

 inside of the doors, and I mean to keep a pan of Spirits Turpentine 

 there. The bottoms of the drawers are to be lined with Red Cedar 

 Shaving, or tobacco leaves. The cases made by three different 

 Cabinet makers (no Doty any more for this kind of work) cost 12, 

 14, & 15 dollars. The last made by Spangler is the most beautiful 



II The above letter, which is derived from a draft left undated, 

 seems to have been sent to Dr. Wilson upon the announcement 

 of the Doctor's purchase of the celebrated Rivoli collection early 

 in 1846. An account of its purchase and reception at Philadelphia 

 will be found in "The Auk" for 1899, p. 175; the Annals and Magazine 

 of Natural History for 1869, p. 317, and in "Cassinia" for 1909, 

 pp. 4-5, where a portrait of Dr. Wilson is published. It is especially 

 interesting as showing the plan, formed so early, which was after- 

 ward fully realized in the publication of Baird, Brewer and Ridgway's 

 great work "The History of North American Birds," in 1874. 



