20 Life of a Fossil Hunter 



collected from this locality. Probably my eyes saw 

 the specimens while I was chasing an antelope or 

 stray cow and too much occupied with the work in 

 hand to take note of them consciously, until they 

 were revealed to me by the dream, the only one in 

 my experience that ever came true. I tell this story 

 to show how deeply I was interested in these fossils. 

 My first collection, or rather the cream of it, was 

 sent to Professor Spencer F. Baird, of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. The following is the letter 

 which I received from him: 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 



Washington, June 8, 1870. 



Dear Sir: We are duly in receipt of your letter 

 of May 28th, announcing the transmission of the 

 fossil plants collected by your brother and yourself, 

 and shall look forward with much interest to their 

 arrival. As soon as possible after they reach us, 

 we shall submit them to competent scientific inves- 

 tigation, and report to you the result. 

 Very respectfully yours, etc., 



SPENCER F. BAIRD, 

 Assistant Secretary in Charge. 



There was no money in fossils at that early day, 

 but I prized more highly than money the promise 

 in the letter that my specimens would be studied by 

 competent authority, and that I should receive credit 

 for my discoveries. 





