154 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



embraces the following well-known names: D. G. 

 Elliot, A. E. Verrill, George N. Lawrence, T. M. 

 Brewer, William Brewster, C. Hart Merriam, Charles J. 

 Maynard, H. A. Ward, A. L,. Heermann, Elliott Coues, 

 H. A. Purdie, John Krider, A. Leith Adams, N. Clif- 

 ford Brown, Everett Smith, Ruthven Deane, J. B. Holder 

 and 1,. W. Bailey. In addition to these scores of letters 

 from lesser known naturalists as well as from local orni- 

 thologists and observers in different parts of the country, 

 are included and have been carefully examined. With 

 many of these last named Mr. Boardman carried on a 

 regular although occasional correspondence, while scores 

 of other letters were addressed to him by young natur- 

 alists who asked for instructions or by observers who 

 wrote making inquiries upon interesting, but little under- 

 stood, points in bird life, and upon which they knew Mr. 

 Boardman possessed information. The letters of acknowl- 

 edgment and thanks found among his papers are sufficient 

 to show that all such inquiries were promptly and thor- 

 oughly answered. His kindness and helpfulness to young 

 naturalists were proverbial among all his scientific friends 

 — a fact to which these letters give abundant testimony. 



Mr. Boardman' s most constant correspondent in this 

 country, as well as his dearest and most intimate friend, 

 was the late Prof. Spencer F. Baird, for many years sec- 

 retary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 



Spencer Fullerton Baird was born in Reading, Pa., 

 February 23, 1823, and graduated from Dickinson Col- 

 lege in that state at the age of seventeen years. In 

 1845, at the age of twenty-two, Mr. Baird was chosen 

 professor of natural history in Dickinson College, and 

 five years later when only twenty-seven years of age was 



