138 John Bachman. 



and staunch as a rock, in fact, she runs like the wind 

 and outdoes herself. 



Do try to keep, at least, a pair of pigeons for nie, 

 I greatly long for them. Dr. Wilson and sister 

 Maria, have several elegant mocking-birds for you. 

 I hope that, by this time, you have received a list 

 of the birds collected for you. * '^" * * 

 I am not surprised at your having gone to Philadel- 

 phia. Who could help it, when a dozen new birds 

 were in the way ? Several are already published by 

 Wilson, Cooper and Swainson; these sureh^ you will 

 be allowed to figure — you did the same for Wilson. 

 The new birds, they will probably describe in some 

 Journal — all this is fair. But after that, surely, they 

 will let you figure them. 



Capt. Day is on the Florida coast. I gave him 

 your large gun and a keg of whiskey, to put up 

 specimens. Dr. Leitner is among the " Keys." I 

 gave him my own gun and whiskey for specimens. 



W^ith regard to Florida, nothing will be done by 

 Naturalists for at least two years. Your Indian 

 friends, the cut-throats, have scalped almost every 

 woman and child soutli of St. Augustine, save those 

 on Key AVest. They liave burnt and plundered 

 every plantation ; and although they will probably 

 be, in a great measure, put down next Winter, yet 

 there Avill, undoubtedly, remain many small preda- 

 tory bands that would make no bones of scalping 

 an Ornithologist secundum artnn ; and would ask no 

 questions wliether he was the friend or enemy of 

 William Fenn. Of Texas, I think better; and 

 thither, or along its borders, you may, I think, 

 venture — for the Texans are our friends. I suppose 

 Genl. Gaines will keep the Comanches quiet. 



Now for the health of the city. We are very 

 anxious about the Cliolera. We know not what a 

 night may bring forth. 1 will defer until to-mor- 



