712 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS. 



interest and tnncli pleasure, as showing an unusual degree of ability 

 as an artist, and of intelligent attention to a scientitic subject. I bad 

 no difticulty in recognizing the bird you sent, and was much pleased to 

 see that you had given all the essential features of form and color with 

 much accuracy. 



" The bird is the Purple Finch {Garpodacus purpiireus). I send you a 

 catalogue of the birds of North America and some other pamphlets.* 

 If yon can procure the ninth volume of the Pacific Railroad Reports, 

 you will find descriptions of all the North American birds, by myself. 



" I will be glad to hear from you and to render you any aid by nam- 

 ing your drawings, or in any other way. You must learn the scientific 

 names of the birds, and thus be able to talk and write about them 

 with persons not knowing the English names used in your part of the 

 country. 



'' Let me know what kind of eggs you have. 



"Very truly yours, 



"Spencer F. Baird. 

 ^^ Assistant Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



" Robert Ridgway, 



Mt. Carmel^ Illinois. 



The above letter was a revelation to the recipient, who, in his isola- 

 tion, was ignorant of the existence of any one but himself engaged in 

 the study of birds. He had read of Audubon and Wilson, and Nut- 

 tall, and Bonaparte, but these he knew were all dead. The profound 

 impression produced by the letter and the hope that it gave, may be 

 imagined. From this commencement arose a correspondence which to 

 the present writer was a constant source of delight and instruction, 

 and to which he looks back with feelings that cannot be expressed. It 

 was not until the early part of 1867, nearly three years later, that the 

 writer obtained a copy of the text of "Birds of North America" (vol- 

 ume IX, Pacific Railroad Report), and it therefore became necessary 

 for him to continue the sending of drawings and descriptions in order 

 to obtain the much-desired identifications. In replying to the writer's 

 numerous letters of this character. Professor Baird always wrote most 

 kindly and encouragingly, replying to multitudinous queries as fully as 

 the arduous duties of his official position would allow. To mention all 

 the usefnl hints which he gave would require to much space here, but 

 the following are selected as samples: 



"I would advise you to spend most of 3 our leisure time in practising 

 drawing of birds and mammals from nature and from life, so as to ac- 

 quire a facility in seizing a temporary attitude and transferring it to 

 paper. Make these sketches continually whenever you have the op- 

 portunity, so as to secure the more practice. A certain number of 

 these drawings you may work up in their minutest details, and it will 

 be a good exercise to draw the feathers of a single wing, as well as bill, 

 feet, etc., and skulls of mammals. The object should be in drawing 



* These were the various circulars of instructioa for collecting and preserving speci- 

 mens of natural history, published by the Smithsonian Institution, and well known 

 to naturalists in this country. , 



