186 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
the Smithsonian for publication in the volumes of the Contributions. 
In connection with this Prof. Agassiz spoke to me of the preparation 
of a monograph of the fish of this country also to be presented to the 
Smithsonian Institution. I agree to the proposition that the engrav- 
ings on stone for both these memoirs should be prepared by the 
artists now in the employment of Prof. Agassiz, provided that the 
work can be done as cheaply as by other artists who might be em- 
ployed. The professor also mentioned to me your desire of having 
your illustrations prepared by the same artists. To this I have no 
objection, and I shall be pleased to learn that you have made an 
arrangement by which the Ichthyology of our country will be more 
fully developed. You may be assured that the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion will afford you every facility in the way of publication compatible 
with its limited means and with the plan of organization which has 
been adopted. 
With my best wishes for your continued success in the prose- 
cution of your interesting researches, I remain very truly, 
Your obt. Serv. 
JosepH Henry. 
About this time, with his students and friends, Baird 
was using his scanty leisure investigating the fossil con- 
tents of caves not only near Carlisle, but wherever such 
caves were reported and within reach. 
These bones in later years afforded much of interest 
to paleontologists. 
October 28, 1848, he received the honorary degree of 
M.D. from the Philadelphia College of Medicine. 
March 28, 1849, he went to Washington and besides 
meeting Agassiz and many other scientific friends, had 
long conferences with Professor Henry, in which it is 
probable he explained many of his plans for research. 
As is customary in such cases he was requested to write 
a letter explanatory of his proposals in order that they 
might be officially on record. 
