RK-474

1858 [circled] 111

Dear Father – Tell me all you can about the habits of Pine Martin and fisher in New York – I can find nothing reliable in any published account.

Did fishers seem in and about water more than martins? Did either ever trouble farmers. you told me that you used to see the martins sitting with the head out of their holes I think? Did you ever see a martin catching or hunting his prey? Ever see ‘em jumping from tree to tree like squirrels? Any thing about young? ever eat berries etc etc?

What did you use to get apiece for skins?

I find accounts of all these small fur animals very meagre.

Any anecdotes illustrating habits of any carnivorous mammals would be interesting and useful – especially any thing about injuries to farmers or benefits by destroying mice etc – [drawing of a hand pointing to the right] Did martins ever burrow??

Please give me any items you can – Sorry I have neglected to call on you before as I am inclined to dis credit some of Aud & Bach’s random statements Put down every little detatched[?] fact you can think of for a day or two and send to me soon –

Do Coons ever burrow? do posums ever live in hollow trees as much as in burrows

[circled] 112

You know the song “Possum up a gum stump etc” I mean do they have their nests in hollow trees.

Did the martins ever live in the leaf nests of the squirrels?

I know or can learn mostly about mink, coon, possum & bear but want to hear particularly about weasels, martins, wolves and cats –

Snowing hard this morning Feb 19.

Son Bob

In case I stay here a couple of months longer I may find it good policy to borrow mony rather than urge Judson too hard – Could you get $100. for two or three months at the rate of * 20 per cent per annum[?] of any one? It might be worth while to know as I want to keep Judson good natured and the payment of interest would thus be a good investment really