172 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



The pigeon is one of the West Indian species, the name of 

 which 1 have not identified. 



Any time tliat you have anything else to send please forward 

 the Florida fish. 



With love to everybody, believe me. 



Yours truly, 



S. F. Baird. 



Washington, April 17, 1874. 

 My Dear Mr. Boardman : 



I have been wondering very much what had become of you, 

 and only learned incidentally from a gentleman who met you in 

 San Francisco, that you had actually gone to California. I am 

 glad to know that you are having so good a time, and I trust that 

 you will come back in first-rate health, with lots of nice speci- 

 mens and enough for your friends. I have nothing very novel to 

 communicate in regard to our doings. We are progressing in the 

 old humdrum manner, steadily adding to our collections, without 

 anything very startling. I hope, however, that the coming sea- 

 son will be equally prolific with the last in birds and their eggs, 

 of which, by the way, you ought to be able to pick up some nice 

 ones in California. 



The government expeditions are getting ready to go out 

 although the appropriation bills have not yet passed. Dr. Coues 

 will doubtless get into the east section of the country and will 

 probably add largely to his lists. 



Mrs. Brj^aut's youngest son, Willie, seems to inherit the 

 zoological tastes of his father, the doctor ; and in reply to her 

 inquiry as to a good locality for the spring, I have advised her 

 sending Willie up to Princeton with his attendant, there to hire a 

 couple of Indians and look up birds' nests. Mr. Frank Carryl 

 of New Jersey proposes to follow quite a similar route. 



Mj' appropriation for the summer has not yet passed, but I 

 hope to be able to go to Noank towards the end of June, where I 

 trust I shall have the pleasure of a visit from j'ou. 



Very truly youis, 



S. F. Baird. 



