CORRESPONDENCE 273 



hesitate to descrilic u new race on tlie stiengtli of the one speci- 

 men. I would say, however, that should the diUcreuces men- 

 tioned prove constant they would be sullicleut to warrant the 

 separation of the Florida bird. 



Very truly yours, 



KOBEllT RiDGWAY, 



Curator, Dept. Birds. 

 P. S. — I will keep the specimen for a few days, or until I can 

 find time to prepare some notes on it. K. It. 



Washington, Jan. 23, 1885, 

 Dear Mk. Boardman: 



I have been so busy since my return from New York that 

 this is my first opportunity of answering your letter of the 8th 

 inst. The Western Grebe (Podiceps occideutalis) breeds very 

 abundant at Hhoal Lake, Manitoba, from whence we have numer- 

 ous eggs. In fact, it breeds throughout the western country in 

 suitable localities, (juite to the Pacific coast and east to the east- 

 ern border of the Great Plains. Captain Beudire is stationed at 

 Fort Custer, Montana, and is tlioroughly disgusted witli the place 

 as a locality for collecting. Zeledon is here, and sends you his 

 best regards. Heushaw has returned, bringing with him about 

 eight hundred birds, among them two fine adult California Con- 

 dors, the largest weighing twenty-three pounds and spreading over 

 nine feet. Turner is busy writing up his notes. He got nothing 

 new except the nest and eggs of Pine Grosbeak. One curiosity 

 which he got in the way of nest and eggs was an old Robin's nest 

 in which a Red-poll had built its nest and in which a White- 

 crowned Sparrow laid its eggs ! He found the nest himself, so 

 there can be no " trick " about it. 



Very truly yours, 



Robert Ridgway. 



Letters from Mr. Boardman to Mr. Ridgway 



Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 24, 1880. 

 Dear Ridgway : 



I have just arrived here and find your letter of December 16. 

 I left home nearly five weeks ago and have been all the time on 



