Beschreibung:

AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES Naturalist. Autograph letter signed twice ("J.J. Audubon"), WITH A TWO-PAGE LIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRD SPECIES, to Thomas McCulloch of Pictou, Nova Scotia ("My dear young friend"), New York, 12 September 1836. 3 pages, 4to, comprising: the letter (on page 1) and the list of bird species (pages 2-3), page 4 with address panel in Audubon's hand and original postmarks, minor holes at two original folds, slightly affecting two lines of the list, discreetly silked for preservation. IN QUEST OF NEW SPECIES FOR HIS Birds of America A fine letter, with a remarkably extensive list of mostly Arctic and sub-Arctic American bird species, apparently addressed to a former acquaintance whom Audubon had known in London. "Should you not have heard of my return [from England] to the United States before this, this will confirm the fact ....I have been here with John [his son] one week. Along with this I send you a copy of my third Vol. of Ornithological Biography, hoping that it may give you some pleasure. I am extremely desirous to procure in the flesh (feathers and all...) as soon as possible after being procured or shot, certain species of Birds more abundant and more easily procured in your section of America than south of it, and now beg of you to fullfill for me the following commission. That is to say, to procure for me all the species annexed on the other side, or as many of these as you can procure, and put in common Rum or whatever spirits sufficiently strong to save them....in paires....to have these put in good casks, with a list...and to ship this to New York...to Nicolas Berthoud Merchant who is my brother in law and on whom I no authorize you to draw at Sight for the amount laid out by you for the Specimen, Spirits, etc. "If you will attend to this, you will render to Science and to myself a very great obligation....Please to acknowledge the receipt of this, and tell me wither you will undertake this commission for me...." Audubon's very extensive list of specimens he wishes McCulloch to obtain for him, occupying the inner pages of the letter, is divided into "Land Birds, comprising 30 species, and "Water Birds," consisting of 29 separate species, all listed in column form: the commen name at left, the Latin name on the right. Within the list, Audubon adds such notes as "Every species of warbler which you can procure"; "every species of Gulls and Terns you shall be able to get." Under his listing of the Harlequin Duck, the naturalist adds: "I should like to have 3 or 4 of these, but particularly the Male!" Some species are described, briefly: the Cinerous Owl (Strix cinerea) Audubon specifies as "a very large Grey Species"; the Artic ground finch he elaborates as "a Species of Towee bunting less than the Common." At the end of the Land Bird list, Audubon exhorts McCulloch to send, "whatever you else that you may procure that you think either rare or curious." Provenance : Goodspeed's, Boston; the present owner.