292 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



from yourself) that eggs, unless thoroughly identified at the time 

 of collection as belonging to any particular species, are useless or 

 worse than useless, being liable only to produce confusion. Our 

 students at this season are also too busy preparing for coming 

 examinations to devote much attention to collecting. Unfortu- 

 nately my most promising student in natural history, and one 

 who had already done a good deal in the way of preparing skele- 

 tons, etc., was suddenly carried oft" last winter by scarlet fever — 

 the only death which has ever occurred among the students of 

 the college. 



I am glad to hear that your California trip was such a pleas- 

 ant one. I have always had a yearning to see some of the won- 

 ders of the west, but am afraid that it will be long before I can 

 get there. 



I hope you will not abandon your idea of a visit to Frederic- 

 ton and the St. John river this summer. I shall myself be away 

 on the geological survey after July 1, but the family will be at 

 home except during the first fortnight in July (when they pro- 

 pose to go to Campobello) and will be glad to see you. My own 

 headquarters for a time at least after going from home will be at 

 Hampstead Village near Long Island on the St. John river, not 

 far from the place I told you of two or three seasons ago. Could 

 you make it convenient to come there any time in the early part 

 of July; I doubt not that you would find good sport on the hills 

 and lakes which abound in that vicinity. 



As you speak of a number of birds as being already mounted, 

 it has occurred to me that it might be as well to send them at 

 once, if convenient, as they will thus serve to make a better dis- 

 play at our coming commencement. By the way, have you any 

 specimen of the little yellow canary-like bird here known as the 

 Thistle-bird? I should like very much to get one. 



Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Boardman and believe 



me, Yours very truly, 



L. W. Bailey. 



