328 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



From John Cassin to Spencer F. Baird. 



PHILADELPHIA, 19 Nov. 1855. 

 DEAR PROF. 



I have not heard from Seaman since I was at Washington he 

 then told me that he would come to see me on the next Monday 

 which was this day a week ago but he did not come; on the books 

 of the Girard House, I find that he arrived on one Friday probably 

 going north and was there again last Wednesday I should very 

 much like to know about those Japan plates. 



Dr. Suckley is now here a regular brick he is; he was in 

 somewhat of a hurry when he arrived last Friday and was going 

 immediately to Washington but his hurry has sensibly abated Leidy, 

 LeConte, Hanson, and other sympathetic spirits seem to be too 

 attractive to say nothing of the Academy Lib. Col. Last Saturday 

 he went with Leidy and Hallowell on a frog and snake catching 

 expedition whereby hangs a tail these young gentlemen have 

 lately made an important addition to their circle of aquaintance 

 in the person of a professional frog-catcher i.e. one who catches 

 frogs for the market and for eating houses. Well, the way that 

 this individual turns out the frogs and snakes is a caution last 

 Saturday he was not so successful as usual but still caught various 

 lots but, on the Saturday before, it was astonishing; Hallowell 

 brought home about 60 snakes various terrapins and frogs amongst 

 the latter about 50 specimens of a little frog which I think they call 

 Acris crepitanSj Baird. 



This man operates simply by feeling for these animals with a 

 stick and then catching them in his hand,- rolls up his sleeves and 

 feels down in the mud. 



I shall send by Dr. Suckley who proposes to come to Washington 

 on Wednesday, the quadrupeds that you want: I sent Lewis's book 

 to Dr. Hale by mail. 



Ever yours, 



J. CASSIN. 



P. S. I have taken another look at the Japan birds expecting 

 rather, to have got to work at them there are about loor 12 that I do 

 not remember ever having seen before I have no doubt that I could 

 get up 5 to 10 plates that will be of interest and altogether proper. 



