80 The \\'ils()n Bulletin — Xo. GO. 



"Verv generous, indeed," chimed in Elliott, with one of his 

 broad winks, and a lateral pull of one of his long mustaches. 



"Without a parallel in history," said I, "and may the 

 recipient be truly thankful." 



"Miraculously so," remarked Elliott, with a joA^ial grin, 

 "miraculously so, Robert, miraculously so." 



"Pick one out for yourself, Shufeldt," said Coues, "as a re- 

 minder, — just one, though, just one, — they are still mine, I 

 believe, Ridgway ?" 



"Thanks in advance, and glad to get the chance," said L 

 And, passing to the stack, I commenced going over them, 

 leisurely, with the view of making a choice. As I did so 

 Coues and Elliott crossed the room to where Ridgway was, 

 and stood with their backs to me, overlooking his work on 

 the colored figure of the bird he was painting. I had about 

 settled on some mediumrsized specimen — an auk. I think — 

 when my eye caught a funny-looking little sparrow-skin, 

 which I casually picked up and examined the label. On the 

 obverse side of this appeared : 



"Coues Collection. No. 231. District of Columbia. 

 Spizella Pusilla. — Feb. '58. Elliott Coues." 



And on the reverse side : 



"I keep this bird because it was the first one of my collec- 

 tion original Xo. 1." 



A little tag attached to the foot bore the number 2'31. In 

 an instant I recognized the fact that I had in my hand the 

 first birdskin Coues had ever made, but at the same time I 

 felt very sure that he would not care to part with it, — to say 

 nothing as to what Ridgway might say about it. x-Xssuming 

 the best air of indifiference I could muster, I stood up, re- 

 flecting most emphatically upon the heat of the day as I did 

 so, and my inability to go through the entire collection in the 

 time at my disposal, I said : 



"Here, Coues, let me have this little sparrow, — it's only a 

 common field sparrow, but will answer for all that I want, 

 and the matter of room is an item with me." To which in 

 substance he replied : 



