a TAuk 



4 Richmond, In Memoriam: Edgar A. M earns. [j an . 



records, and illustrates the serious and painstaking method with 

 which he handled his subject, a method of precision that he adhered 

 to throughout his scientific work. 



"117W. 22ndSt.,N.Y. 



Nov. 17, 1878. 

 Mr. J. A. Allen, 



Dear Sir! 



I have wanted to ask you several questions with regard to pub- 

 lishing a list of the Bds. of the Hudson River, and take the pre- 

 sent 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 getting 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 "Carolinian 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. 



I 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 progresses, we all 

 know that very considerable changes take place, respecting the 

 geog. distribution of the Bds. Very many ornithologists of the 

 present day receive with incredulity many statements of the old 



