Page:The Passenger Pigeon - Mershon.djvu/232

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Photo by C. O. Whitman (University of Chicago)
October 16, 1906.

Mr. W. B. Mershon,
Dear Sir: — I am much chagrined over my carelessness in overlooking your request for a photo of a young Passenger Pigeon. I had best of intentions, but crowded work threw this out of mind. I should have attended to it at first, had it been easy to get at the picture. I have been away all summer and found things misplaced on my return. I fear it is now too late, but send the picture to be used if you are still able to do so. I shall be very much interested to see your book. I still have two female pigeons and two hybrids between a former male pigeon and the common Ring-dove. The hybrids are unfortunately infertile males. Very truly,

C. O. Whitman.