50 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
relatives, he began to read in medicine with Robert 
Maccoun, beginning with “ Dunglison’s Medical Student” 
as a textbook. He was apparently (from the journal) 
taking more time for recreation than formerly, especially 
in the evening, nearly every day’s entries showing visits, 
small parties, attendance at the meetings of the “ Belles- 
lettres Society,” and the “Reading Society.” He also 
borrowed many books and copied the descriptions and 
plates of such as he thought would be useful to him in 
his studies. Between March 1st and August Ist he 
walked 565 miles and on the 8th of September walked 
from Carlisle to Harrisburg and back, about 40 miles, to 
get and return books from the State library. He also began 
collecting fossils and fresh water mussels, part of which he 
sent to Dr. Isaac Lea™ in Philadelphia, who was already 
at that time a recognized authority on such matters. 
During all these occupations his correspondence with 
his brother William was kept up and the (for that time) 
generous salary which the latter received as a clerk in 
the Treasury at Washington made it possible for the 
brothers to add to their collection of birds by an occa- 
sional purchase, and more liberal supplies of powder and 
shot. As an illustration of his activities Spencer’s letters 
to his brother about this time are particularly interesting. 
From Spencer F. Baird at Carlisle to William M. Baird at Washington. 
CarRLIsLE June 16 1841. 
Dear WI11, J 4 
Your letter came safely yesterday and though Mother said it 
was not worth reading yet I found it very interesting, I walked up 
to M’Clure’s Gap yesterday, and killed two more Heterodon snakes. 
1 Tsaac Lea, LL.D., born in Wilmington, Delaware, March 4, 
1792, died in Philadelphia, Dec. 8, 1886. He was the most eminent 
student of the fresh water mussels and made valuable contributions 
to Eocene Paleontology. 
