244 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



so you can see we had some good shooting. But the great shoot- 

 ing was at alligators ; they were not spared. 



I have not collected any eggs for a year or two as I have 

 about all that are found here. I have nothing new of the bird 

 kind except a White Bed-tail, a very nice pure white albino 

 without a dirty spot on him. 



The season is very backward, no leaves on the trees yet but 

 warblers have all got along, and I shall go to collect a few if it is 

 warm to-day. I made Baird a visit on the way up as usual. He is 

 hard at work, will spend the summer down with us, or about 

 Eastport. There are to be quite a lot of scientifics this way this 

 summer and we hope to go among the Islands and have a good time. 

 Yours as ever, 



G. A. BOARDMAN. 



Milltown, 20 Aug., 1872. 

 Dear Doctor : 



I am glad to hear from you. I have to answer my letters as 

 soon as I get them. I have so many if they are left over and filed 

 away I might never see them again. 



I have just returned from quite a cruise down east with Prof. 

 Baird. We started with the ladies for St. John. Went from there 

 to Digby, N. S., up the Annapolis valley to Windsor, then to 

 Halifax, then to Pictou, and over to Prince Edward Island ; back 

 by way of Shediac to St. John, then up St. John river to Frederic- 

 ton and thence back by rail home. We called to see all the bird 

 and scientific folks. Had a nice company, very fine weather, and 

 all enjoyed ourselves very much. I see by the papers the weather 

 has been very hot west, when we were wearing overcoats 

 down in the St. Lawrence and were comfortable. We found some 

 very nice folks in Halifax and would like to ask you, doctor, how 

 it is that most all the naturalists we found were doctors? We 

 found Dr. Gilpin of Halifax very much interested in collections 

 and paid us every attention. I had been over the route before 

 and knew who to look after, so went to show the professor 

 what a nice looking country there was down east in summer. You 

 would be pleased to make the trip in hot weather. You would 

 see many birds quite new to you for summer birds, and you 

 would miss many of your old summer acquaintances. I hope you 

 may soon have the railroad finished on your side of the river. 



