LIFE AT CARLISLE 113 
have got some new ideas from it, which I will communicate hereafter. 
I will just mention however that he says positively that both the 
Hirundo rustica and the rufa inhabit this country. That during a 
three years residence in New York state, he was familiar with both. 
The Rustica builds in chimneys & constructs a different nest from 
the other species. It has also a longer body & the usual broad band 
of black on the throat. Keep a sharp look out for this bird. I sent 
the birds on, Last Wednesday. They all went in your Cape May 
box. Mother says not to forget to answer her letter soon. How 
comes on the Schuylkill A. Expedition. Yours aff’ly 
Spencer F. Barrp 
Old Miller told me he saw three Swallow-tailed Hawks flying 
over his house last fall. He was very close to them. 
In July he began his correspondence with John Edward 
Gray, Keeper of the British Museum. On the 11th his 
cousin and companion on shooting expeditions, William 
Penrose, graduated from Dickinson College with honors. 
Baird at this time, beside his ornithological work, reading 
of English classics and busy exchanges with American 
and foreign collectors of birds, was digging hard at 
German, reading Schiller and other noted writers. He 
was also keeping up an active correspondence with Dr. 
Brewer and Dr. Morris. He was on Brewer’s instance 
elected a corresponding member of the Boston Society 
of Natural History. 
The following interesting and characteristic letter 
from his grandmother is preserved: 
From Mrs. Lydia Spencer Biddle to Spencer F. Baird. 
Caruis.e, July 24th, 1844. 
Enclosed, Dear Spencer, is four dollars to purchase the Dictionary 
you mentioned to me, as being necessary to your progress in French 
and matters of science. Had you wanted any article of gratification 
8 
