200 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



York the first of June or about that time ; will send them to you 

 or leave them with him as you say. I will also send what Newton 

 says is Pine Grosbeak ; they were sent to me for that by young 

 Dresser, brother to Henry E. of London. I wrote H. E. about the 

 Steller Duck egg, told him to send to you. I expected to do a 

 good thing egging this Spring but the weather has been so bad I 

 could not go in a canoe without getting wet tlirough. Hope this 

 week will be better but it is now raining and I am writing very 

 fast for the mail. How about the Pied Duck? What has become 

 of the bird? it used to be common; can it be possible it will 

 become extinct? A clumsy bird like Great Auk or Dodo might 

 get run out but a good diver and flyer like this duck should take 

 care of itself. I did not know it was so rare; supposed your 

 northern folks would find it breeding ; I think they must have 

 gone to some other parts ; you must look them up by your col- 

 lectors ; they may be down to Newfoundland. 



I wish you were here to go up to the lakes fishing this week. 

 We would have a good time. I am sorry to have to go west so 

 soon as I prefer to be here this season. 



Kind regards to Mrs. Baird and Lucy. 



As ever, yours, 



Geo. A. BOARDMAN. 



MiLLTOWN, August 22, 1868. 

 My Dear Professor : 



I have just received your letter of August 20th, sorry you are 

 so long getting away. Was looking for you to-day. Come as 

 soon as you can, Wednesday or Friday if possible. I think it would 

 do Mrs. Baird and Lucy good to take a steamboat trip with you. 

 Don't talk about must be back the ensuing Thursday or Saturday, 

 but say, must be back the ensuing Thursday or Saturday, if God 

 (and Geo. A. Boardman) are willing. I notice what you say 

 about digging old clams. There is a large lot of old heaps near 

 St. Andrews. I told Dr. Adams about digging into them, as he 

 has been for two weeks attending court there. I do not know 

 what has been found. There may be more of such shell heaps 

 about the islands. I think if you dig them all over you will have 

 to stay more than a week. There is also plenty of AVaders about 

 and you can dig the old clams and I will shoot the birds. I think 



