288 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
ing up the zoology of this state than I would. The reason I have done 
more with plants than any other department was because they did 
not demand any great drafts upon my time at once—as half a day or 
an entire day or more which would be required to ichthyologize. 
My birds I am aware are sufficiently defective and perhaps I 
ought to have thrown out some of the poorest specimens. But they 
may suffice for some purposes. I had as unpleasant a job as could be 
desired in skinning the Buzzard sent, and I sincerely promised myself 
at the time not to repeat the job for any consideration. You have 
among these birds every one I have skinned. 
As to insects, I am sorry to inform you that I had about two 
hundred different species preserved as well as I could preserve them 
with my poor facilities, and, all of a sudden, the ants—the omnivorous 
and omnipresent ants,—found them and swallowed the entirety. I 
send you some specimens since collected. This is certainly an insect- 
fostering country. I have no doubt I could collect many species now 
unknown to science. 
In regard to the collection of Plants sent to the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution I wish to add some observations to you personally. In the first 
place I have not packed more than a quarter of the specimens I have 
in hand, for the reason that you told me to send only one sample of 
each species unless rare. I had thought you would like a large number 
of duplicates to exchange and I accordingly collected them. The 
balance of my collections, therefore, are at your disposal if you think 
them worth anything. 
In regard to the manner in which I have done the business of pre- 
serving, &c., | am too painfully sensible of all the imperfections not to 
beg you to judge leniently, and in view of all the difficulties I have had 
to encounter. For you must remember that all my attention to 
Natural Science is only collateral, and by piece-meal, as I can find 
time. The duties of my school have demanded a greater share of my 
attention than one can well imagine who has not had charge of a 
female seminary in the South. And then, of the time which I could 
devote to Nat. Science, not the whole could be given to the collection 
of specimens. And moreover after the specimens were collected, many 
circumstances were liable to interpose to prevent their suitable preser- 
vation. Perhaps it was not possible for me immediately to put them 
to press—perhaps after in press, I could not attend to changing the 
papers as often as I ought—perhaps I received them from persons in a 
