VoI 1906 ni ] Deane > Letters of J. J. Audubon and S. F. Baird. 327 



Marmots, Squirrels, Bats, and a hundred other things, which he 

 will send me in the spring. 



Look out for Martens, and try to find me some yourself! I am 

 glad that you find wild cat meat pretty good, as it corroborates the 

 sayings of many others, who pronounce it equal to young veal. 



Let me say to you ("en passant") that your handwriting is con- 

 siderably improved, and depend upon it that your attention to 

 Drawing will soon enable you as of "copperplate." Go ahead! 



I now wish you earnestly to offer our joint respects, regards, and 

 best wishes to all your family and friends, and to believe me always, 



Yours, most truly, 



John J. Audubon. 



86 White Street. 



P. S. 



Thank you for what you say of the Bedford gentleman. When 

 I write next, I will mention him at greater length. I wish you 

 could let me know whether we could procure first rate peach trees 

 from your vicinity, and how much 50 of them would cost. I should 

 like to have them assorted, soft, and clings yellow, or red, or blood- 

 red. We wish to plant these as early in March as possible, if young 

 trees, two years old could be had, we might, perhaps, have fruit 

 on some of them during the next summer ? Try what you can do 

 for your New York friend. 



[On the outside of the letter is the following:] 1 will make up a 

 box for you in a few days, and send it to you through Mr. Chevalier. 



Baird to Audubon. 



Carlisle, March 4th, 1842. 

 My dear Mr. Audubon 



"The winter is over and gone, and the voice of the Turtle is 

 heard in the land" So king Solomon said some thousand years ago 

 and so says your humble servant now. Spring has opened in 

 earnest, the Robins, Blue Birds, Blackbirds, are all here in great 

 numbers. Wild Geese were heard "Honking" for the first time 

 this afternoon, and the Golden crested Kinglet has begun to come 

 into the gardens. Mallards, Green winged Teal, Baldpates, 

 abound in our streams and in short every thing proclaims the 

 arrival of the most welcome season of the year. In illustration of 



