145 Brattle Street 
Cambridge Mass 
Feb 12, 1899 
Dear Mr. Ingersoll: 
Had I gone into photography, as so many do, merely to kill time 
and get together some pretty pictures I would gladly make you 
[ ] of my bird negatives; but from the first I have worked 
with the definite object of using my plates, when I should have 
[>ccvr«<l] a sufficient number, for illustrating my own writings. 
This being the case you will understand, I am sure, that any 
previous use of them in a public way would ] injure their 
value for my purposes. > 
I have some ifeally fine things but the time and labor - to say 
nothing of the money — which they have cost me would surprise 
you if you [<a.\/er-] attempted anything of the kind yourself. 
During 1896 and 1897 I worked in the Maine woods through May 
and June, assisted by a guide, two professional' [ ] hunters 
and a cook, yet the total yield for each season was less than 
a dozen of really valuable negatives. Our picture of a 
Canada Nuthatch feeding its mate at the nest kept us [ ] 
busy for two entire days in making the preliminary preparations 
namely we had to build a staging at a height of twenty five feet, 
make a ladder to the staging and do various other things. 
You are by no means the first who has asked to use my negatives 
for ffianskmxm [ two words ] and my reply has invariably been a 
refusal. 
Sharing with you the regret that [ ] cannot [ ]. 
I remain 
Very sincerely, 
William Brewster 
