Birds and Quadrupeds. 181 



This would enable you to decide on the terms of the 

 book. I think that two thousand subscribers at 

 $1.00 for each number, might be obtained. But it 

 must be no half-way affair. 



The animals have never been carefully described, 

 and you will find difficulties at every step. Books 

 cannot aid you much. Long journeys will have to 

 be undertaken. Several species remain to be added, 

 and their habits ascertained. The drawings you 

 can easily make, if you can procure the specimens. 

 I wish I had you here, if for only two days. I think 

 that I have studied the subject more than you have. 

 You will be bothered with the Wolves and the Foxes, 

 to begin with. I have two new species of Bats and 

 Shrews to add. The Western Deer are no joke ; and 

 the ever-varying Squirrels seem sent by Satan him- 

 self, to puzzle the Naturalists. * * 



Love to all. It will be a terrible disappointment 

 to us, if Maria, John and the little Lucy do not come 

 to Charleston this winter. J. B. 



January 13th, 1840. 



" I think that your " Birds of America" will be 

 a standard work for centuries ; ere then, we will be 

 among the planets studying something else. The 

 descriptions in the " Small Edition of Birds," will 

 have to be abridged }^our " worthy friend " and 

 other humbugs may be left out to advantage. I 

 am not at all surprised at your success in getting 

 subscribers; but let me say, cities are not the only 

 places to obtain them. Birds sing and nestle among 

 the groves of the country The planters and farmers 

 are the men to become subscribers. An intelli- 

 gent planter from the up country said, a lew days 

 ago, that if the right person would thoroughly 

 canvass the whole State of South Carolina, he would 



