422 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



worked in a fisherman's cabin by the sea. It is interest- 

 ing to recall that Alexander Wilson, in company with 

 George Ord, had spent a month at this point in the 

 spring of 1813. 



The following letter 2 from Swainson was probably 

 the one to which Audubon replied from New Jersey on 

 September 14: 



William Swainson to Audubon 



MY DEAR MR. AUDUBON 



I welcomed the news of your arrival in America yesterday, 

 and as I am making up a packet for Liverpool today, 1 seize the 

 opportunity of wishing you joy and happiness in the new w r orld. 

 I am surprised and disappointed as not receiving one line 

 from Ward it is at the best negligent, and somewhat ungrate- 

 ful. Hope you have begun your studies among the birds on 

 a better plan than formerly, that is, in preserving the skins 

 of every one on which there is the least doubt whether the 

 bird is young or old, particularly the former. If you are to 

 give scientific descriptions and definitions of the species 

 this precaution is absolutely necessary. What your Amer- 

 icans do with their money I know not, Mr. Lea tells me 

 he cannot procure one purchaser for my new Illustrations : 

 here it is now going on very well. 



You asked me what you can do for me in America. I will 

 tell you. Send me a cart load of shells from the Ohio, or from 

 any of the Rivers near New Orleans. The very smallest, as well 

 as the very largest all sizes. I have been long expecting those 

 which your son promised you for me near twelve months ago ! 

 but I have heard nothing of them! you may spend a few dol- 

 lars for me and send people to fish the shells at the dry sea- 

 son, when the waters are low, that is the best time. 



Things go on here much as usual, but I have not been in 

 London since Xmas. The first volume, containing the Quad- 



3 Published originally by Ruthven Deane (Bibl. No. 218), The Auk, 

 vol. xxii, 1905. 



