VOl 'l90^ ni ] Deane > Letters of J. J. Audubon and S. F. Baird. 199 



5 3/4, of wings 4 7/12, of claws "J.f: extent 9 1/2: Tail 2 *-^, 

 Wing from flexure 3 ^f 2 : end of closed wing from end of tail 1 

 4 ).{"': Second quill longest ^ longer than the first. Middle 

 tail feathers -\£ 2 shorter than outer. Bill along the ridge 5/12, 

 edge of lower mandible ' \.y tarsus 6 -^ ; Hind toe and claw 4/12; 

 middle toe and claw ^. 



This bird was a female, and resembled the Wood Pewee very 

 much having the same large and broad bill, and pretty much the 

 same claws. It may be a very small individual of that species. 



You see Sir that I have taken (after much hesitation) the liberty 

 of writing to you. I am but a boy, and very inexperienced, as 

 you no doubt will observe from my description of the Flycatcher. 

 My brother 1 last year commenced the study of our Birds, and after 

 some months I joined him. He has gone elsewhere to settle and 

 I am left alone. I have been much assisted however by Dr. A. 

 Foster 2 of this place in various ways, and should the above Fly- 

 catcher happen not to have been described, it would gratify me 

 very much to have it honored with his name. This letter is already 

 too long, yet perhaps you will pardon me for adding a few remarks 

 about some of the Birds found about Carlisle. And first, has 

 not the adult male Cape May warbler a black crown ? I obtained 

 three specimens this spring, two of which agree with your 1 de- 

 scription, while the third resembles the other two perfectly, except 

 in having a perfectly black crown, as stated by Nuttal. 



The Little Tyrant Flycatchers (M . Pusil/a) were very abundant 

 here this spring. I found them principally on low bushes and 

 trees, in wet places, and I have seen more than a dozen in a day. 



The Rough winged swallow is very abundant about here. In 

 fact I may say to the exclusion of the Common Bank Swallow, as 

 I have in vain this spring endeavored to get a specimen of the 

 latter. They breed in the banks along the Letort spring. 



1 William M. Baird, born in Reading, Pa., Aug. 4, 1817, died in Reading. Oct. 19, 

 1872. Entered Lafayette College 1834. Graduated at Dickinson College 1837. 

 Admitted to Berks County bar, Reading, April 12, 1844. Mayor of Reading 1855-56. 

 Collector of Internal Revenue, 8th District of Pennsylvania, 1869-1872. 



2 Dr. Alfred Foster, M. D., born 1790, died 1847. Graduated from Dickinson 

 College in 1809. On his tombstone in the cemetery at Carlisle, Pa., is inscribed "Pur- 

 ity of rriind and integrity of purpose graced his great attainments in science and 

 literature; and his character happily blended the guilelessness of childhood with 

 the wisdom of mature years." 



