EDGAR ALEXANDER MEARNS RICHMOND. 651 



more European collectors, from whom he obtained many specimens 

 in exchange. 



His first published paper, on " The Capture of several Rare Birds 

 near West Point, N. Y." * appeared in January, 1878, and it is worthy 

 of comment that under the first species mentioned in this paper he 

 acknowledged some information received from his "friend, Mr. 

 Theodore Koosevelt," inasmuch as almost the last field work he ever 

 undertook was with this same leader of men. 



Three other notes followed shortly, while a paper on " The White- 

 headed Eagles in the Hudson Highlands," 2 presented at the meeting 

 of the LinnaBan Society of New York, on April 6, 1878, was the first 

 communication read before that newly formed society, and was ap- 

 propriately published on July 4. Toward the end of the year he had 

 made sufficient progress with his big undertaking to look forward 

 to a suitable medium of publication, and he wrote to Dr. J. A. Allen 

 for advice. This letter, a copy of which was found among his manu- 

 scripts, is here reproduced, as it emphasizes the importance he at- 

 tached to specific, as opposed to vague general records, and illustrates 

 the serious and painstaking method with which he handled his sub- 

 ject, a method of precision that he adhered to throughout his scien- 

 tific work. 



117 W. 22nd St., N. Y., Nov. 11, 1878. 

 Mr. J. A. Allen, 



Dear Sir : I have wanted to ask you several questions with regard to publish- 

 ing a list of the Bds. of the Hudson River, and take the present opportunity to 

 do so. Singularly enough, there is no medium of publication for such an article 

 in this State. The " New York Academy " has recently changed very much in 

 its character, and Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence tells me it would be impossible to get 

 them to publish any lengthy paper on zoology, as he has much difficulty in get- 

 ting them to take even brief articles of his own. 



I am writing quite a bulky list of the Hudson Valley Bds., with which I am 

 taking the greatest pains ; particularly regarding dates of migration, breeding, 

 life-habits, etc. 



One of the more important points is the northern extension of the " Caro- 

 linian Fauna " up the Hudson. 



I think the whole number of species that have been taken in the Hudson 

 Valley (none others will be included), will amount to about 215. 



I have been compiling the data of this list for several years. And now my 

 object in writing to you, is to enquire whether there are any available facilities 

 for getting the list published during the coming winter or spring. Would the 

 "Boston Society Natural Hist.," or "Bulletin Essex Institute" do it? If you 

 will be kind enough to advise me I shall be extremely grateful. 



1 have tabulated all of the specimens I have taken (1800) in Hudson region, 

 and have formulated tables of measurements of all of the specimens taken. I 

 think that these tables contain matter of sufficient interest and importance to 

 warrant publication, in the case of the rarer species especially. As time pro- 

 gresses, we all kn ow that very considerable changes take place, respecting the 



1 Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, III, No. 1, January, 1878, 45, 46. 



2 Forest and Stream, X, No. Ill, July 4, 1878, 421 ; No. 113, July 18, 1878, 462, 463. 



