33 



edge, Professor Agassiz, on the occasion of receiving from 

 me the skeleton of an uncommonly finely developed Ayr- 

 shire cow, for the museum of Comparative Zoology at Cam- 

 bridge. He says : 



" As I intend to make a very complete collection of all our domes- 

 tic animals, allow me to submit to you my desiderata, in the hope 

 that you may, in the course of time, be able to help me in obtaining 

 some of the subjects I want for that purpose. It would be highly 

 important to ascertain if possible where and when the different 

 breeds of cattle now growing in America have been introduced, and, 

 if possible, to track some of the earliest breeds to their present dis- 

 tribution over the whole country, so that the changes they have 

 undergone in America might be ascertained. 



" With reference to the collection to be made I wish to obtain at 

 first skeletons of a bull, cow, and calf of each breed, which will of 

 course require much time and perseverance. As such choice speci- 

 mens as are wanted would always be valuable, opportunities should 

 be sought to obtain specimens that have accidentally died, in order 

 to lessen the expense. After getting such a standard set of the two 

 sexes and the young of each breed, a larger number of heads, as 

 the most characteristic part, should be added, in order to ascertain 

 the minor variations that may occur with age in each breed, and 

 especially to display the gradual growth of the horn. Next it would 

 be well to have skins, or at least portions of skins, in order to ascer- 

 tain how far the condition of the skin itself influences the growth of 

 the hair ; and, finally, tanned skins, that the relative merits of the 

 leather may be looked into. * * * * I shall make an attempt 

 to have some animals stuffed, in order to see how far, in that way, 

 the general appearance of the animal might be satisfactorily pre- 

 served." 



" I should like also specimens of the young of the various breeds, 

 of all ages." 



" You would greatly oblige me if you will call my attention to 

 any work upon the cattle that may be worth reading, and also upon 

 the statistics of the trade in leather in all parts of the world." 



May I not call on all who hear me to aid this great 

 scientific explorer in his researches into the history and 



