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to Chi. Acad. Sci. I fear Col Javett who is out here will not be able to do much for the conchological fauna of California.

The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.

If nobody does it before, and the means can be indicated when I get back from the North I should like to get a chance at the shells of the coast. I haven't found any body out here yet who could collect shells any better than I can, and the work has hardly been begun yet. Carpenter will I am sure find much to interest him in my notes and small collections from Monterey, which were made at the worst season of the year and under the worst

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circumstances.

There is little to be done in shells up North. I shall do the most on botany fish and bones, I think.

I am very sorry not to have Elliott but will do all I can in the deficiency.

We go straight to the Youkon mouth, and bring up at Petropavlosk and I shall winter there in all probability.

Very truly yours
Wm H Dall

Prof S F Baird
Washington DC