RK-295

Big-grove, Audubon Co Iowa, May 1^st/'57

Mr Kennicott Sir

Being as I am, in this new, and comparatively wild region, and having great interest in the study of Zoology, I shall endeavor to render your insipiant Museum some assistance the ensuing Summer and Fall! I have already made some collection; for my own benefit, – A few practical hints on taxidermy would be of great service in preserving the skins of the various kinds of animals of the Missouri Valley, which are very numerous and some, I have not been able to ^find any description of whatever The skulls of ^the different tribes of Indians can be easily obtained and even their whole skeletin if needed, Elk & deer horns of

of enormous size, which are worth from $5’00 to $25’00 here in this state, I have a Black Booby’s skin stuff^ed, - (shot here a few day's since,) there are many other bird here ^which are very rare. The “Little Grebe,” an expert diver, whose beak resembles, the common dung hill fowl, and feet semi-web^bed. I have also an animal of the Cat. Kind resembling the “Puma” whose skin I have stuffed Please drop me a line, advising the best mode of preserving skins with Arsenic, and the manner of taking them off, especially birds Adress D^r R. S. Hallock Hamlin-Grove, Audubon Co, Iowa

Yours &c RS Hallock

The pocket-gofer is the farmer’s drea[page cut off]