1850 TO 1865 343 



Many of the eggs too were very desirable; in the whole collection 

 were about 20 species new to us. I may find time for a running 

 commentary on the collection hereafter. 



A curious fact in the zoology of the Slave Lake and Ft. Simpson 

 district, is that it is almost exclusively eastern in its type; very few 

 Pacific or Rocky Mt. species. . . . 



The frogs appear to be chiefly Hyla and Rana Cantabrigiensis. 

 The fish must embrace the greater part of the known Arctic fresh 

 water species. 



No new species appears to be among the insects, although there 

 are some rarities. LeConte has overhauled the Coleoptera, having 

 agreed to pay $50.00 per annum as his share. Edwards was pleased 

 with the Lepidoptera and will continue his subscription. 



I have pretty well divided up the collection among contributors, 

 who appear to be generally satisfied. I have been liberal with the 

 common birds, especially the large ones, and have taken good care 

 to give the Chicago Academy a first class series. In distributing I 

 have placed yours and Mr. Ross's in one common stock, and dis- 

 tributed duplicates as from a single collection. By Mr. Ross's sug- 

 gestion we have sent a full series of his duplicates to the Montreal 

 Natural History Society, adding specimens from yours wherever they 

 could be spared. This was but fair, considering that his specimens 

 were counted in the common stock. 



I have had great comfort in John Woodworth's presence here 

 this winter since the beginning of January. I am sorry that he must 

 leave the end of this month. I like him personally very much, and 

 no one has ever helped me as he has in Museum work (R. K. perhaps 

 excepted!). Since he has been here, we have gone over our duplicates 

 of mammals, birds, snakes, shells etc. and made a general distribution 

 of them, assigning a first class set to the Chicago Academy in con- 

 sideration of him and you. 



You will be sorry to hear of Dr. Kennerly's death at sea while 

 coming home early in February. He is a great loss; his disease was 

 associated with the brain. He has made large and valuable collections. 



I have so many items to discuss and talk over that I hardly know 

 where to begin. You must therefore be satisfied to have them jotted 

 down as they occur, without special reference to connection and 

 system. 



