On my return yesterday from a tour of a month, I found your kind favor of the 10th inst. at my house. I regret exceedingly that you and I should not have met at Philadelphia, as I feel sure by the style and contents of your letters to me that you are fond of the study of natural objects, as much as I am.
I have no doubt that your journey during the last summer and autumn was a pleasing one to you, as I can well conceive from the fresh recollections of my many rambles.
You would oblige me much by sending me (through Mr. Chevelier) the Muscicapa you obtained Oct. 12th, and also the small woodpecker "with the very broad bill". I am anxious to see those birds, and will take especial care of them, and also return them to you, free of all expense.
I cannot at this moment return to the specimens you have already sent me, but in my next letter, I will assure you of the names of the subjects. I wish I could see your Bay Lynx, as I feel somewhat confident that we have more than two species within our limits.
Your anecdote connected with the sagacity of the Weasel is quite pleasing to me, and will appear in my biographies of quadrupeds bye and bye. I cannot, as yet, give you any estimate of my work on the Quadrupeds of our Country but will do so as soon as possible. With my best wishes, for your health and prosperity, I pray you to consider me as your friend and obt. servant,
John J. Audubon.
In the following letter by William Yarrell,[181] English naturalist and sportsman, are interesting references to Audubon's smaller edition of The Birds of America as well as to the writer's History of British Birds, which later became the standard work on the ornithology of Great Britain:
William Yarrell to Audubon
[Addressed] J. J. Audubon Esqr
No. 86 White Street
New York.
[Superscribed by Audubon]
March 10, 1841.
[English postmark] D
Paid
4 MR 4
1841