RK-042

I caught these millers to day when I was out in the timber, pulling the rotten wood out of a tree. Fremont, June 15th, 1855. Dear Kennicott, I received a letter from Prof Baird at same time that I received yours, and he requests me to save him the different specie of squirels. I have answered his and ask advice and instruction from him as concerning Taxidermy. I thinck I will send him a box full of curiosities in the summer. - my Insect in particular. I am much obliged for your advice and perhaps will send for Curvier's work. Yes I have no doubt things go on as before at Washington - and in the Institution, - glad of it. I could not attend school this winter but am reading Natural Hist of Birds from Harpers Library, just now. Your NatHist anecdote of your crane was first rate, try again. I will tell you all I know about the Cantharis. I have but one C, cinerea and that small scarcely 3/4 inch in length they were not common here, (I believe) last season. Cortharis Vittala was most plenty, eating beets - and the Amaranthus - spinosa, and flying by night as plenty came into the light, - evenings. C. marginata, was about as destructive [illegible] & devoured pretty much the same as the last.

C. atrata - I observed on the solidago and other plants and used to loose my English beans by them. But I found a kind not described by Harris, it looks like the C. cinerca but has a red-head - these I found in the hollyhock flowers they appeared voracious, and greatly disfigured the whole plant. I can give you not satisfactory details, respecting them. It is strange that the catalouge of Coleoptera, contains none of these specific names that I have given and which you gave also. You must continue your researches all winter if you are at it yet. I have ten cases. 7, = 8+10, 3 = 10+14, Case of Beetles has 600 ^insects about 260 near 200 species. Orthoptera. 114 Insects, 100 species. Neuroptera 35 insects 30 spe. Hemiptera 170, do 80 do. Lepidoptera 200 do 100 do Hymenoptera 270 do, 100 do Diptera 140 do 60 do. Having about 1400 in all 600 species. My Lepidoptera are not very rare. The Handsomest (would be if whole) is the Atticus - cecropia, I found, the wings and pasted them upon a false body. Several [illegible], and Moths and millers I have the Bee Moths, also Diapeia Bella which are beautiful - others too numerous to mention. But enough, I must certainly describe the Hoe and have the honors. yours Pleas hand it to your Father, William Shaw.

The (Plum) Sloe, Prunus, Sloa, Mr Editor, As the Sloe of Tazwell has never been described minutely - it is time some one has given a Botanical description so that persons unacquainted with the Tree would know the same by seeing it after reading the description thus given. It has been called the Chicasaro Plum. (Prunus Chicasa) but differs enough to deserve a specific name itself, and consequently I propose to call it the Prunus Sloa or the Sloe Plum. The branches thorny - bark rough on old trees, but very smoth and destitute of hair or down on the young shoots & young trees, leaves smoth, oblanceolate, serrate, [illegible] with small glands. Fruit round, red, destute of bloom, on short stems, two or three in a cluster ^{# bunch}, clusters ^bunches numerous, arranged on spurs, on the straight branch. [Illegible] 8-10 flowered, forming a cylindrical bunch all around the branch where the spurs are numerous, presenting a beautiful Snowball appearance when in full bloon. - being very fragrant also the perfume is delightfull which is wafted given the trees. Trees from 10-15 ft in highth branches spreading, top flatened, + (bunch)

C. atrata - I observed on the solidages and other plants and used to loose my English beans by then. But I found a kind not described by Harris, it looks like the C. cinerca but has a red-head - These I found in the hollyhock flowers. They appeared voracious, and greatly disfigured the whole plant. I can give you not satisfactory details, respecting them. It is strange that the catalouge of Coleoptera, contains none of these specific names that I have given and which you gave also. You must continue your researches all winter if you are at it yet. I have two cases. 7,=8+10 3=10+16 Case of Beetles has 600 ^insects about 260 near 200 species. Orthoptera. 114 Insects, 100 species. Neuroptera 33 insects 30 spe. Hemiptera 170, do 80 do. Lepidoptera 200 do 100 do Hymenoptera 270 do, 100 do Diptera 140 di 60 do. Having about 1400 in all 600 species. My Lepidoptera are not very rare. The Handsomest (would be if whole) is the Atticus - cecropia. I found, the wings and pasted them upon a false body. General Sphinges, and Moths and millers I have the the Bee Moths, also Drapeia Bella which are beautiful - others too numerous to mention. But enough, I must certainly describe the Hoe, and have the honors yours Pleas hand it to your Father. William Shaw.