Vol. XVIII 

 igoi 



1 Deaxe, Letters of MacGill/vray to Audubon. '^A-^ 



volume might still come out first, or both might come out together, 

 in which case the first might be improved and perhaps enlarged. 

 Can you inform me where Mr. Gould has described a Wagtail 

 formerly confounded with the Yellow Wagtail, and which I am 

 informed he has named moracilla neglecta ? I have found the bird 

 here in abundance in some meadows near the town, and thought 

 at first that I had discovered a new species. It is, like the Grey 

 Wagtail, a most elegant bird, but it has a conical elongated bill, 

 and a long slightly arched hind claw. Now that your American 

 birds are completed I suppose you will have at the European or 

 the British. In the latter case what will become of mine ? How- 

 ever, I have resolved, God willing, to go through with my task. 

 I have at least 20 drawings superior to anything in the way ever 

 seen by me, excepting ahvays " The Birds of America," and so 

 good that one might look at them without disgust even after seeing 

 yours. With best respects to Mrs. Audubon, 

 I have the honor to be, dear Sir, 



Your obedient servant 



W. MacGillivray. 



No. 5. 



Edinburgh. 1 1 Gilmore Place 

 19th August 1834 

 Dear Sir 



I regret that I have caused you so much uneasiness. Your 

 letter of the 5th August, accompanied by a parcel of descriptions 

 of birds came duly to hand, as did your subsequent letter, but I 

 have been out of town on urgent business and only returned late 

 last night. I have seen Mr. Kidd twice today, and informed him 

 of your wishes. 



The College of Surgeons are so urgent with me to have the 

 Catalogue of their Museum printed by the ist of November that 

 it will be quite impossible for me to go to London before Decem- 

 ber, because after the catalogue is done, the registration of stu- 

 dents which occupies three weeks commences. If it be really 

 necessary that we should meet, I apprehend under these circum- 

 stances that you will be obliged to come north, which perhaps 



