LIFE AT "MINNIE'S LAND" 221 



different portions of our Wide Union, we expect to collect, 

 not only new species, but much of valuable matter connected 

 with their geographical range, and particular habits. For 

 instance, in your assistance in this department as well as in 

 ornithology, you may be able to send us valuable intelligence 

 respecting the Shrews, Mice, Rats, Squirrels, etc., found in 

 your immediate vicinity &c. — and by saving and forwarding 

 specimens to us, be able also, in all probability, to place into 

 our hands, objects never before known to the World of Science. 

 Whatever information we thus receive is sacredly published 

 under the name of the friend from whom we receive the infor- 

 mation, etc. I have sent you the Zoological report of Doc'. 

 De Kay. His Corvus cocolotle [cacolotl] is really our Raven. 

 Supposed by some inexperienced European naturalists to be 

 distinct from the Raven of Europe, which, however, is a gross 

 error.'' . . . 



The thrush which you have described, and which you kindly 

 offer to send me, may be new, but perhaps you are not ac- 

 quainted with the Turdus Nanus of my work, to which it ap- 

 pears, if not the same, probably a new variety! Noius ver- 

 rons. . . . 



Please to collect all the Shrews, Mice, (field or wood), rats, 

 bats. Squirrels, etc., and put them in a jar in common Rum, 

 not whiskey, brandy or alcohol. All of the latter spirits are 

 sure to injure the subjects. 



Audubon, who was now "killing two birds with one 

 stone" — collecting subscribers for one work and mam- 

 mals for another, had found a strong and willing helper 

 in the young naturalist of Carlisle. On December 10 of 

 the same year Baird wrote that he had discovered an- 

 other Flycatcher, as well as a small Woodpecker, which 

 was apparently new, and had shot a "Bay Lynx or Wild 

 Cat a mile & a quarter from Carlisle; the cat . , . was 

 2^/2 feet long & weighed 12% pounds. ... It was a 



' See Vol. II, p. 169. 



