
          New York Nov 26 1830


 Dear Sir:


 I did not receive your obliging note, with the bill
 and feet of a Larus, till yesterday being absent
 when Dr Pickering returned from Massachusetts.


 These specimens though so imperfect, I find very
 interesting, and am very sorry you did not preserve the whole
 skin. It is certainly not any of the species of Bona's
 Lynopsis, nor can it be either of the small [metic?]
 species, L. sabinii & Rossii. There are two or three
 others described in works to which I have not, at
 present, access, such as L. melanosynchus of South Am'a [America].
 It may be one of these, for the birds of this genus have
 a very extensive range. If you could obtain a complete
 specimen it would facilitate the determination very
 much.


 It gives me much pleasure to learn that you
 intend to pursue the study of ornithology. I shall 
 be very happy to correspond with you on the
 subject of birds and to exchange specimens with
 you. There is a great deal still to done in our

        