166 PETER COLLINSON [1743-4. 



PETER COLLINSON TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



London, January 16, 1743-4. 



My dear Friend John: 



I was mightily pleased to see the specimens of both sorts Arbor 

 Yitce. That of poor Isham's is much the finest ; but the good man 

 is gone to his long home, and I doubt not but is happy. I have at 

 this juncture writ to his wife, to send some of her people to gather 

 and send me some seed. We all esteem it, here, to be an Ameri- 

 can plant, and brought by the French from Canada; for, by all 

 the Herbals that I have examined, they all make it a native of 

 America. I never knew it grew in Germany, till thou informed 

 me of it. 



The specimens of Crabs were sufficient to see the species. I had 

 not the sort before, but I have seen them described. If they had 

 been perfect, they would have been a greater curiosity; but their 

 make is so delicate, it is scarcely to be expected whole. If such a 

 thing should happen, doubt not of thy care to send it me. There 

 is a very great variety of this species. Every part of the world, 

 bounded by the sea, furnishes new kinds. 



The eggs thou hast sent, are very pretty, and curious to see sucb 

 a variety. But what affords M. Catesby and me great matter of 

 speculation, is to see so many sorts of Turtle, which, if we may 

 judge by the eggs, are specifically different. But this is like to 

 bring some trouble on thee; for we naturalists are impatient, and 

 never easy until we are satisfied ; so, what we have to request of 

 thee is, that when any of these kinds happen in thy excursions, 

 thou will send us a shell or two to each of these kinds, viz. : 



The flatter back, red-bellied water turtle smaller long eggs. 



The common land turtle the next larger and long eggs. 



The round-back, stinking turtle the smallest, pretty long, shin- 

 ing eggs. 



The great black turtle with round eggs. 



The great red-bellied turtle with largest sized eggs of all. 



M. Catesby admires so many of these sorts escaped him; but 

 it is next to impossible that he could, as a sojourner, make such 

 discoveries as a curious man, that is a native. It is really true, 



