422 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 
worked in a fisherman’s cabin by the sea. It is interest- 
ing to recall that Alexander Wilson, in company with 
George Ord, had spent a month at this point in the 
spring of 1813. 
The following letter * from Swainson was probably 
the one to which Audubon replied from New Jersey on 
September 14: 
William Swainson to Audubon 
My pear Mr. Aupuson 
I welcomed the news of your arrival in America yesterday, 
and as I am making up a packet for Liverpool today, I seize the 
opportunity of wishing you joy and happiness in the new world. 
I am surprised and disappointed as not receiving one line 
from Ward it is at the best negligent, and somewhat ungrate- 
ful. Hope you have begun your studies among the birds on 
a better plan than formerly, that is, in preserving the skins 
of every one on which there is the least doubt whether the 
bird is young or old, particularly the former. If you are to 
give scientific descriptions and definitions of the species 
this precaution is absolutely necessary. What your Amer- 
icans do with their money I know not, Mr. Lea tells me 
he cannot procure one purchaser for my new Illustrations: 
here it is now going on very well. 
You asked me what you can do for me in America. I will 
tell you. Send me a cart load of shells from the Ohio, or from 
any of the Rivers near New Orleans. The very smallest, as well 
as the very largest—all sizes. I have been long expecting those 
which your son promised you for me near twelve months ago! 
but I have heard nothing of them! you may spend a few dol- 
lars for me and send people to fish the shells at the dry sea- 
son, when the waters are low, that is the best time. 
Things go on here much as usual, but I have not been in 
London since Xmas. The first volume, containing the Quad- 
? Published originally by Ruthven Deane (Bibl. No. 218), The Auk, 
vol. xxii, 1905. 
