Outgoing Correspondence from Robert Ridgway, December 13, 1869

              smithsonian institution washington d c december 13th 1869 dear father i believe i have not written to you since i left- and the truth is that i have  received but two letters from home~i wrote to uncle william two weeks ago last sunday but i have not heard from him yet i am at work now on my report, and also upon a monograph of the north american raptores or birds of prey of this i have finished the first part the falconida embracing the falcons swift-hawks new hawks kites eagles etc. 1 have stopped now for want of specimens of the bald eagle = there is not in the collection a single specimen of this bird in young plumage except from the pacific coast = now i would like for you to send us the one you have and if you want i will return it=it is a very important thing and is to settle the question of the number of species of eagles inhabiting north america-send us all you can get this winter you can send in the