366 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
order,—which will occupy me a few days. I shall then get settled 
in my tent,—we have nothing else to live in,—and shall try to prose- 
cute Nat. Hist. with the same animus with which I left Washington 
for this country. 
I have rec’d but one letter, which came here yesterday. You had 
not at that date heard from me from “near Fort Riley” from which 
place I shipped a box of spec’s. I shipped another box from Los 
Pinos. Please write me when they arrive as I am little anxious, 
specially about the latter. 
From Santa Fé here I have traveled muleback, and collected 
everything that came in my way. Have got some things; not much; 
for three-fourths of the route is a desert, with hardly a stray lizard 
to pickle. In the mountains I did better. Have young of year 
Cyanura, Gymnokitia; Dendroica. I don’t know but presume is one 
of the western sp. I always was unfamiliar with. Have a keg full of 
rattlesnakes, Phrynosomas and several saurians of all sorts. Have 
taken the fullest possible notes. Regarding the lizards have all the 
evanescent colors carefully described. The herbarium Dr. Engelmann 
gave me is crammed full of spec’s; with notes of soil, altitude et cet. 
mostly procured by Capt. Anderson, who continues to be all I 
could wish in a comd’g officer. Have not forgotten Mr. Ulke; 
shall have some vials of coleoptera for him. My Géill-ology is 
confined to a single pugnosed fish found in the Zuni River; except 
some four legged affairs with gills and tadpoleoid tails; but I am in 
doubt whether they ought to go to him or to Cope. Genus Siredon 
are they not? 
Fort Whipple is situated in a mountain valley three days journey 
west of Bill Williams mt. a pretty place; and so far as I can judge 
good for any amount of jays, tomtits, Sittas, Tyranni, grouse, et.-cet. 
No water whatever; and ornithologizing will require much wind and 
muscle. The Apaches are so hostile and daring that considerable 
caution will have to tinge my collecting enthusiasm if I want to save 
my scalp. 
“Prescott” the capital, is a mile from here; a few log huts 
grouped round a liberty pole. The governor and his whole posse 
are here. 
Yours most truly, 
E.uiotr Cougs. 
