^°^-i^^^"^] Thayer, Auduhoniana. 117 



which I hold him, and of the gratitude which I ever cherish towards 

 him." 



The first letter was evidently written when Audubon was en- 

 grossed in his work on the quadrupeds and while he and his sons 

 were issuing the octavo edition of the " Birds of America." In this 

 the Parkman's Wren was figured and as the part containing it 

 appeared in 1841 it is probable that it was one of those which Dr. 

 Parkman distributed in Boston for Audubon. After the plate was 

 drawn it is evident that the type specimen was mounted as a gift 

 for Parkman. The two letters follow. 



New York, June 20"^ 1841 

 My Dear Friend. — 



I intended having written to you yesterday by Miss Shatuck, 

 who was good enough to spend the day with us, but I was so deeply 

 engaged on a drawing of Rocky Mountain Flying Squirrels, that the 

 time for her departure came suddenly and I could merely ask of her 

 to say to you, that your last letter and remittance had reached 

 us in safety, and with the unexampled promptness shewn by you 

 on the three occasions you have been troubled with the delivery 

 of 46 parts of our work to 46 of our Boston subscribers; and for 

 which as I have said before I am very sorry to have nought but 

 our sincerest thanks and gratitude to you for this, so remarkable 

 friendly proceeding. May our God reward you and yours for all 

 your generous actions. 



I thank you also for your memorandums about the quadrupeds 

 in the Boston Museum as I see that our animal there may save me 

 the trouble of going to the State of Maine for it. When I was last 

 under the hospitable roof of our Friend Doc'' Shattuck, I saw in 

 George's room a N". of the "Penny Magazine" in which there is a 

 plate representing a family of Beavers at work, that reminded me 

 greatly of what I have seen in the ponds of Indiana some thirty 

 years ago, and which I should like to have for a few days to assist 

 in part in the making of the background to my Drawing of these 

 animals, drawn from the Individual you procured for me. I will 

 take good care of the N". and will return it safely very soon. 



Should George Shattuck have forwarded that N". to M''. B. of 

 Baltimore, pray ask him to write to the later to send it me as soon 



