1850 TO 1865 275 
system. Our scale of operations is on a vastly larger scale than 
Vattemare’s. : 
Our returns from Europe even this year are already enormous. 
In the first quarter they considerably exceeded those for 1851. And 
the exchanges for Vol. 2 have but just commenced. I wish I had 
you here to talk over the matter. I send a printed list of our corre- 
spondents. You will rejoice to see “Islands Stiftisbokasofn” among 
them.§ 
Natural History prospers likewise. No end to the accession of 
rich treasures; fish, flesh and fowl. Oh, for time enough to develop 
them. By all means send me lots of Salamandrosus. I want him 
exceedingly. You must have several species of salamanders, some in 
water, some on land, under logs, etc. (N. B. See printed directions 
enclosed.) I won’t give much for a live ostrich, but will give a bottle 
of first rate Scuppernong wine from N. Carolina, when you come back, 
for his skeleton. It would be a prize, indeed. But I must have a 
camel’s head, at least, if not his whole skeleton. And what of Hyenas, 
Jackals, and the like, of which travelers speak? Are such fabulous? 
I fear me so; I want some dog skulls, too; these I know abound. The 
fresh water fish you sent from old Nilus, were nice—and still nicerer, 
I have a book which tells me about them, Rippel, on Nilotic fish. 
Send me any different species.of unios or fresh water mussels, in alco- 
hol, too. Shall I send more? or has the Sultan yet introduced the 
Maine liquor law? 
Yes—I am glad you like the idea of writing the book. Collect 
plenty of specimens, and you shall have a grand Nat. Hist. Appenprx. 
You can make a travel as is a travel. Have you seen or read Huc’s 
Travels in Tartary. The most interesting one about, until yours. He 
too traveled on Camels, but on the bactrian critter, with two humps, 
and carrying 700 to 1000 Lbs. Climate awful—cold, sleet, &c., wild 
oxen frozen up while crossing rivers. ‘These are the animals for our 
Western plains, if the Syrian species will not do, of which I have many 
doubts. The Camel article to which you refer, I have not seen. I 
regret you did not send it to me: I would have made it into an article 
for the Patent Office Report, adding facts concerning the Northern 
species. I have written for Patent Rep. a long article on the ruminat- 
ing animals of North America. 
5 Mr. Marsh was interested in the Icelandic language. 
