page_0001

[printed letterhead]
No. [written] 276 [printed] Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, D. C. [written] February 28 [printed] 18 [written] 57

My dear Robert,

I embrace the first leisure
moment to answer several letters
of yours lying by me; I have already
written you about the practicability
of delay until the middle of March;
your later letter of Feb. 23. announcing
the transmission of the Mss. came
yesterday; the Mss. not yet ar-
rived. I will write again on receipt
of it; how was the mss. sent. By
Express? I dont anticipate any
trouble in reference to the Superces-
sion of Mr. Mason.

I sent some days ago the
outfit. Embracing most of what you
call for. The cork I did not send.
Perhaps I can forward this by mail.
I will see.

I have finished the Insectivora
and have eleven new N. American
shrews! Your smallest shrews with
long tail is Sorex cooperi. There is
also another with 30 teeth, and smaller