1741-2.1 TO JOHN BARTRAM. 151 



This, M. Catesby brought first from Virginia. I think thou found 

 it there also. 



I am much obliged to thee for the noble Skunk-root. I divided 

 it into three parts ; so that I hope I shall now be so furnished as 

 not to want again. All the other things were in order : so that I 

 now begin to long to see them peep, there being so many fine 

 things amongst them. The Chamaerhododendrons move very slow. 

 They seem to like Lord Petre's soil better. They seem to die 

 daily, with me ; and I have tried them in different methods. 



I was much delighted with the birds' nests in particular with 

 the hanging nests, which are most wonderfully fabricated, and seem 

 to be of two sorts. As M. Catesby intends to send thee his His- 

 tory of American Birds, both he as well as myself desire to know 

 the birds that belong to them, for he does not remember to have 

 seen them ; and also that bird thou calls a Marsh Wren. These 

 thou may send over to his name, for I have the same by me : and 

 so, when any eggs come, pray tie a label with the bird's name, ac- 

 cording to his catalogue. I desire the little man's acceptance of 

 the picture-books, that sent them me. The Swallow's nest is ex- 

 actly the same as ours, and built in the same manner, with the 

 same materials. But what I greatly want, is the Swallow or Mar- 

 ten's nest, that builds in chimneys. These nests are of a different, 

 curious make, being a sort of basket-work very pretty, and dif- 

 ferent from any nest I ever saw. M. Catesby had one sent him 

 from Virginia. And the eggs are different in shape from others. 

 This is so nicely constructed, that it requires a very steady hand 

 to take it without breaking. 



The two Humming-bird's nests are neatly built ; but it would 

 be an addition to their curiosity, to cut off the twig that they are 

 built on, with the nest on it. Pray, from what do they gather that 

 woolly or downy composition, that is inside of their nests ? for it 

 is much finer and softer than sheep's wool. Lady Petre wants a 

 nest and eggs, and an old dead Humming-bird cock and hen. 



I observe in the shells of your Muscles, there are rudiments of 

 pearl, that is pearl-like protuberances. Is there none ever found 

 in them ? I have some, taken out of your oysters ; but those from 

 your Muscle are of a better complexion, for they generally partake 

 of the complexion of the shell. I think I observe three different 

 sorts of Muscles, found with you. 



Pray, from which species of Fir, or Pine, were those bladders 



