404 General Notes. \^^. 



one {Rkytichops nigra) have since been confirmed as inhabitants of the 

 state. This list was only verj sparingly annotated, but symbols were em- 

 ployed to indicate Avhether the species were rare or common, resident or 

 migratory, or whether known to breed in tlie state. This list, so far as it 

 goes, is remarkably free from errors." 



The manuscript is written by Dr. Emmons in ink, in a small and 

 cramped hand, and covers seven pages of foolscap, and on comparing it 

 carefully with the list as it appears in Hitchcock's Report, I find it is prac- 

 tically an exact transcript. The two footnotes in the Report, referring to 

 the Red-bellied Woodpecker — "Takes the place of the P. aura f us in 

 the western part of the State of New York" — and the Wild Turkey, 

 "Frequently met with on Mount Holyoke. E. H." ; do not, however, 

 appear in the manuscript. On the back of the list, at the head of the 

 eighth page, Dr. Emmons has written the following letter to Prof. Hitch- 

 cock, submitting the list to him. 



"Sir. — I have done the best I can with the Catalogue. It is much 

 more satisfactory to myself in the ist Sub-Class. In the 2d I have been 

 obliged to obtain my information mostly in Museums, &c. But in general 

 it is, I think, accurate. I might have added a few more species, but I 

 choose rather to omit some than commit the opposite error. You see 

 my form and arrangement, it is, of course, at 3'our disposal to alter as you 

 see fit to make it conform to your general plan. The systematic form I 

 should certainly prefer to an alphabetic one. My observations you are at 

 liberty to suppress. Errors you will, of course, be good enough to rectify 

 &c. The English names I would print in italic. 



Yours truly 



E. Emmons. 



On the bottom of the same page is the following letter addressed to 

 John J. Audubon from Prof. Hitchcock : 



" Amherst, Mass. March 22d, 1833. 

 Mr. Audubon — Dear Sir — I send you Dr. Emmons' Catalogue of 

 our birds, to which, as I hear from G. A. Greene, Esq., you have gener- 

 ously consented to add some notes. When you have prepared them will 

 you be so good as to leave them, along with this Catalogue, with John 

 Tappen Esq. No. 74 State St., Boston, and greatly oblige 

 Yours respectfully and obediently, 



Edward Hitchcock." 



The whole list, including the letters, was then folded and sealed, with- 

 out envelope, and addressed to "John J. Audubon, Care of Dr. George 

 Parkman, Boston, Mass." 



I wrote to Prof. Chas. H. Hitchcock of Hanover, N. H., son of the late 

 Edward Hitchcock, asking if he knew who the gentlemen mentioned in 

 his father's letter to Audubon were. In his reply of Dec. 17, 1900, he writes, 



