1850 TO 1865 287 
Natural Science continued to enlarge. The following 
letter from Professor Alexander Winchell ™ (later one of 
the most eminent geologists of the United States) gives 
an idea of the handicap under which students of that time 
often labored. Observe ‘‘that blessed word Mesopo- 
tamia!” 
From Alexander Winchell to S. F. Baird. 
MEsoPpoTAMIA FEMALE SEMINARY, Eutaw, 
GREENE Co., ALA. 
6 Jan. 1853. 
Dear Sir:— 
My specimens are at last ready to be dispatched. I assure you 
that I have found the preservation, numbering, cataloguing and 
packing of so large a number and variety as I have attempted, has 
made no small demand upon my time and exertions. In order to con- 
vey an idea of the extent of the field which I have been over and the 
amount I have (imperfectly) done, allow me to present a rough sum- 
mary of the subjects and the number of species of eae forwarded, 
the whole mass of objects about 650 species. 
I exceedingly regret that I could not secure more of the Verte- 
brata. You have spoken of commissioning a pack of boys to catch 
fish for me, &c. I have often done it but never received anything but 
promises which are always free when there is no expectation of ful- 
filling them. I assure you the boys of this country are far above fish- 
ing for other people. The negroes can be occasionally employed to do 
such things in their way, but then I have no means to pay them and 
it’s little they do without pay. I am myself 3 or 4 miles from the 
river or any creek, and my business has kept me absolutely from 
devoting the time to excursions for fish. I assure you I regret it 
exceedingly,—and you could not yourself take more pleasure in hunt- 
11 Alexander Winchell, born in Dutchess Co., New York, Dec. 31, 
1824; died at Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 19, 1891. A student of marked 
ability whose qualities, recognized early in his career by Baird, car- 
ried him to an enviable eminence as a geologist and teacher. He was 
long Professor of Geology at Michigan University. 
