176 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



William Swainson,® written at a time when his great 

 work was drawing to a close, will be given at this point: 



Audubon to William Swainson 



London 11th Jan 1838 

 My dear Me Swainson, 



The severe indisposition of my good wife which has con- 

 tinued almost unabated now since I had the pleasure of seeing 

 you, is my excuse for not having ere this answered your two 

 notes, especially the last of the 8th instant. — 



Your box & contents came perfectly safe to hand, and I 

 think will soon again be in your possession in like good order. 

 I certainly should like to see the Buteo [ .?] vulgaris to compare 

 it with mine (that at the mouth of the Columbia) and the one 

 described by Nuttall before the return from America of D. [Dr. 

 John] Richardson & of which it seems you were not aware. — 

 I am glad nevertheless that if differing from the European 

 bird of that name the Transatlantic bird will be honoured by 

 your own name. 



Charles Bonaparte is at Paris & is to remain there. I am 

 well informed for about a fortnight. — He left London in great 

 haste and I assure you has left no parcels or letters for you 

 or anybody else either with us or with Havell. — I am sorry 

 that he should have disapointed you & your dear Children 

 but . 



I cannot say just now whether I have a specimen of Mus- 

 cicapa Trailli "the Prince" having two of my giving, if how- 

 ever, I have another I will send it to you with great good will & 

 pleasure — As regards your queries respecting several species 

 of quiscalus or Crow black birds You are correct for I have 

 myself discovered two in America one in the Floridas the other 

 in the Arkansaw River, both of which will be given in my work. 

 — That more exist I have no doubt especially further South and 

 West. 



You have described a swan in the Fauna Boriali Americana 



= The Linneean Society's MSS. See Chapter XXIII, Note 13. 



