246 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



speeches. We heard your Mr. Eaton yesterday. He is quite a good 

 speaker and took the right side of the question. This forenoon 

 we go to visit the Treasury. There is a house full of down east 

 people who board with us. Last evening they were at the Pi'esi- 

 dent's reception and had a nice time. I do some work at the 

 Smithsonian for Prof. Baird and spend considerable of my time 

 over there. Don't you ever get down to Washington? Should 

 be glad to see you here this winter. 



I saw a paper from you in a new Springfield little work and 

 am always glad to see your papers. It is very singular you never 

 get the Black Vulture as well as the Turkey Buzzard in your 

 state or at your place. Since I have been collecting I have known 

 of six being taken with us, besides several about the Nova Scotia 

 shore — very many more than of the common Turkey Buzzard. I 

 have the Black Robin I wrote you about at the Smithsonian, body 

 black, wings and tail white. 



Before I left home there were some of the Bohemian Chat- 

 terers about our gardens but I did not get any. Did not collect 

 anything very new before 1 left although I got one little sparrow 

 or Richardson's Owl. I am writing in a hurry as the ladies are 

 hurrying me to go out with them. Let me hear how you prosper. 

 Hope you did not lose the money you wrote about as being 

 endorser for a scamp. I have lost the same way, to a very large 

 amount and have a law suit for more, that I may have to pay, but 

 hope I may beat the rascals that swear to anything. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Geo. a. Boardman. 



Minneapolis, Minn., 23 South 13th St.. February 2, 1883. 

 My Dear Doctor : 



I have not written you for a long time, and think it about 

 time I gave you some account of my doings. 



I came out west in September to visit my children, expecting 

 to go to California in the winter, but my wife has not been well 

 enough to try the passage. She is now much better but we are 

 so comfortably settled with my daughter that we may not get 

 away. One of my sons is with us, and two others live very near, 

 so we have all our children but one son here in Minneapolis and 

 the children are trying all ways to make us live out here with 



