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[stamped] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION [written] 1205 [stamped] WASHINGTON D.C.
[handwritten] St September 30: 1855
My Dear Robert.
I returned last night from my summer trip, myself and family in excelent health, and ready for the winter campaign. Among a pile of letters as high almost as my head I find yours of Sept. 10, and 21, which as usual I proceed immediately to answer. [illegible].
The value of your fish collections will be very greatly enhanced by the minute labels for locality; in fact to mix and call them all indiscriminately "from the Valley of the Mississippi" as you suggest will be to diminish their worth immeasuraly I would not try to assort
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the collection. Put each lot in a jar, several species together; the number of jars containing these "mixed pickles" will impress the visitors to the fair vastly. Of course where localities are only a short distance apart, on the same streams it may do to combine them somewhat.
The grasshoppers do not pin at all. Nor spiders; but retain in alcohol of insect pins you shall have as many as you want Mr. G. will give you as much information in his specialities as he can at once. The crustaceans he can also manage.
I will return to you a labelled series of the fish & reptiles as soon as possible after receiving them.
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1205 As soon as convenient, let me have a minute list of all the localities, from which you will send specimens, legibly written, so this I may have blank labels printed. Send also an approximate estimate of the number of different species in each locality.. Say also on what small stream each locality is situated, and write what main stream the latter flows.
The article on Prairie Hen I would certinly write as requested by Mr. Cassin. You ought to write many such articles. That on the Sand Hill Crane was so excellend an one.
You must not feel dissatisfied or discouraged with the result of your
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summers work. You have doubtless done as much as any man could, and vastly more than most persons would. These results will follow you through life and many a movement. an action in life or connection with fellow man. will be legitimately traceable to the present season. A lifetime too might be exhausted in working up the [illegible]- life results. Stick close to the birds: they will afford a vast field for your labors. I had no idea so many southern species came into the state.
Let me hear soon as possible of the impression produced by your collections at the fair.
Yours truly SF Baird
Robt. Kennicott Ill