280 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



of Bonaparte's Gull with the black head ; it does not often get down 

 as far as our latitude, in summer plumage. When you write me 

 when to go after moose, please to give me the route which I 

 must take, and the time for me to start. I am going on ^louday 

 to shoot snipe on Squaw Beach, New Jersey, to be absent about a 

 week. Do you have any flight of these Bay Snipe near you? I 

 should think they would come that way. I do not think anything 

 I should carry on my woods trip would be subject to duty. They 

 will consist principally of eatables and drinkables, for mj' expe- 

 rience tells me it is always advisable to have some creature 

 comforts along on such expeditions. I am now writing besides 

 my large work on the Birds of North America, a smaller popular 

 one, to be included probably in about three volumes, and I am 

 going to try and get Wolf to illustrate it with wood-cuts. I include 

 all the species known to inhabit North America with an account 

 of their habits, nesting, etc., and hope to make it useful and 

 entertaining to all my countrymen. The volumes will not be anj' 

 larger than Audubon's small work, easy to carry and handle. 

 So any account which you can give of our birds, anecdotes, etc., 

 will be verj'^ useful to me. Hoping to hear from you soon, believe 

 me 



Yours very truly, 



D. G. Elliot. 



New York, 1st Nov., 1866. 

 My Dear Sir; 



Your favor of the 13th was duly received but as I have been 

 away from town I have been prevented from replying. I reached 

 home safely after a rapid and pleasant run. Baird has been in 

 the city, called upon me, but unfortunately I was not at home so 

 missed him. I also did not have time to stop in Boston so lost 

 the Cinereous Owl. I hope you may get it some time when you 

 come through and will conclude to dispose of it to me. My 

 recollections of the moose hunt are very pleasant and I feel much 

 inclined to tiy it again another fall. Your moose horns are very 

 fine and must make a good show. I should like to know what 

 the other set you mention measures. A black red squirrel is cer- 

 tainly a curiosity to say the least of it. I would like to see one. 

 The White-headed Eagle doubtless nests on cliffs at times, but I 



