198 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



the service, but St. Augustine is the better place to get down the 

 coast. 



I see many birds new to me such as Cardinals, small Crows, 

 Buzzards, different kinds of Gulls, Terns. Blue Jays are quite 

 common, but have not seen one Florida Jay. I see many of our 

 summer birds, Robins, Grackles, Red Poll Warblers, Sparrows, 

 etc., etc. I saw in Carolina very large flocks of Doves, Meadow 

 Larks and Blackbirds. I have agreed for some Pouched Rats if 

 the boys can get them, also the Land Turtle. The negroes eat the 

 latter. I have seen ice two mornings since I have been here, the 

 first of the season. The orange trees are full, and some few in 

 blossom. I find the express of a small box of oranges to New 

 York will cost three dollars. Adams & Co. does not come here. 



With many thanks for your kind attention when I was in 

 Washington, hoping you, Mrs. Baird and Lucy are all well, I am 

 Very truly yours, 



Geo. A. Boardman. 



Jacksonville, 13 March, 1868. 

 Dear Baird : 



Since I wrote you at G. C. Springs I have made up a box of 

 about fifty birds and sent by express. I could not get them 

 along with my baggage as I shall return by land. There are three 

 Salamander skins, by the boys, not done very nicely. I sent 

 another box in a trunk to Boston and can send back by 

 Adams & Co. They were collected at St. Augustine. My collection 

 made here I can't find, they were left with a friend until my 

 return ; he has goue up river, may get them before I leave. I 

 hope you may find some you may want. I had no arsenic to 

 prepare lai"ge birds, and all the larger birds I did not skin. I did 

 not shoot anything very rare; there were some good White 

 Herons and a few Hawks, nothing very rare. I shall probably 

 leave for Savannah Tuesday next, from there go to Augusta, 

 Aiken, and so along to Norfolk, and be in Baltimore the last of 

 the month. Very few birds have begun to breed except the larger, 

 as Fish Hawks, Eagles, etc., etc. 



I like this climate very much ; think I shall try to spend my 

 winters here. I have the promise of some collectors down at 

 Indian river, to get and send you some eggs ; hope they may do so. 



