94 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
to the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia for 
publication. Baird was studying earnestly at French, 
German and the calculus. He also read a number of 
standard works of fiction in French and German inci- 
dental to his study of the languages. In April he began to 
teach a small class of girls in geography, arithmetic, 
botany, and history. His first pupils were Lydia Biddle, 
Lydia Baird, Jane Alexander and Anna Reed. ‘The class 
met daily except Saturday, during the week. When it 
came to the day for Botany he took his class into the 
fields to make practical application of his instruction, 
and in later college work he followed this plan with his 
students in the natural sciences. He had joined the 
Musical Society some time previously and now did more 
or less practising, and joined the church choir in their 
rehearsals. July 13th he took his diploma of A. M. in 
course, at College Commencement, with several others of 
his class. 
From Spencer F. Baird to William M. Baird. 
CaRLIsLE, May 23, 1843 
Dear WILL, 
I send you the result of the last 7 days. By examining the list 
you will find some good Birds. Last Tuesday, I went towards the 
North Mt. up & down the valley, shot 4 Lincoln finches in different 
places, a pair of Blue Grosbeaks, at the very place where we three 
shot them before; and some other birds of less interest. Last Saturday 
Will Penrose & I went down the creek through Tempe & the Bottoms. 
Shot a Traill’s Flycatcher, and a very handsome Mourning warbler, 
Male, on the same thorn tree above the 1st Bottom as the one I 
shot one last spring. There is something very curious in this thing 
of the same species being found always in the same place,—as the 
Mourning Warbler, Blue Grosbeak and others. Yesterday I went 
out to Yellow Breeches creek and up to Ege’s forge. The wind was 
very high and I could see no birds. I shot a Lincoln finch however. 
