Personal.                                                     Omaha, May 3, 1905.

Dear Wolcott:

Miss Emily Wood, whom you may remember having met at our Omaha field
day last year, telephoned Elizabeth last evening and inquired whether
it was the intention of the Omaha members to go to Lincoln this spring
for a day on the Salt Basin. You will remember that the subject came
up at our last meeting. Elizabeth did not feel free to state how
the matter stands, and gave her an evasive answer; after which we
talked it over. Miss Wood stated that she and several other teachers -
five or six in number - are anxious to visit the Salt Basin this
spring, and supposed we would be in position to say whether any
plans had been made.

In view of the fact that Miss Wood and her party, and probably
several others, would be glad to spend a day on the Salt Basin, it
seems to us that it would be impolitic for us to plan such an ex-
cursion without letting them know. While it was strictly our own
affair, there was considerable criticism of our action last year in
running away without letting those interested know of the plan; and
we fear that a repetition of the offense, particularly in view of
the inquiry which has been made, would "disrupt the unity" of our
bird-lovers army in Omaha.

There is a train on the Rock Island which leaves here at 7:20
and reaches Lincoln at 8:52. That leaves a fair amount of time for
observation, and we are inclined to think that we should advise Miss
Wood, and perhaps all Omaha members, informally, that it has been
proposed to spend the 14th on the Salt Basin, and that if they wish
to attend they can go over the Rock Island in the morning and return
over the Burlington in the evening. We do not think it advisable
to advertise a field day or account of its being Sunday; but an
informal note to each would notify the individuals without subjecting
our association to the odium of Sabbath-breaking.

This would necessitate the preparation of a noon luncheon for
perhaps a dozen more than our original plan embraced. I shall be
glad to personally assume the expense, but the trouble of prepara-
tion would, I fear, fall on the Lincoln folk, as it would not be
practicable to carry things so far.

The plans as regards the original party need not be affected
in any way. Miss V. and I, and I presume Dr. Torrey, will come down
Saturday afternoon. If our fellows like not this variation on our
part, verily they must lump it.

You see, we are up against it; and Elizabeth and I see no other
peaceable way out of it other than that herein outlined. Please let
me know at your early convenience - within a day or two if possible -
whether you approve, and if so we will notify the members.

If you can give me a list of Omaha members up to date, it will
avoid oversight and consequent bad feeling. I assume that there are
numerous additions, and changes from the last printed list.

Yours truly,

UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA

THE SPACE ABOVE IS RESERVED FOR POSTMARK.
POSTAL CARD.
THE SPACE BELOW IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY.

LINCOLN, NEB
MAY 9
5 PM
STA. A
1905

POSTAGE ONE CENT
1843-McKINLEY-1901

OMAHA [illegible]
MAY 9
830 PM
1905
REC [illegible].

Mr. Frank H. Shoemaker,
C/ General Auditor’s Office,
U. P. Ry.,
Omaha, Nebr.

Lincoln, May 9. 1905

Dear Shoemaker,

Will you please bring
down a half dozen splendida with coppery
thorax ~ or even a dozen if convenient — un
pinned?

Very sincerely
Robt. H. Wolcott

UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA

THE SPACE ABOVE IS RESERVED FOR POSTMARK
POSTAL CARD.
THE SPACE BELOW IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY.

LINCOLN, NEB.
MAY 9
1 PM
STA. A
1905

POSTAGE ONE CENT
1843-McKINLEY-1901

OMAHA, NEB.
MAY 9
6:30 PM
1905

Mr. Frank H. Shoemaker,
C/ General Auditor, U. P. Ry.,
Omaha,
Nebr.

Lincoln, May 9. 1905

Dear Shoemaker,

Am looking forward with
greatest anticipation to Saturday + Sunday.
Have a locality here for Lecolia in beautiful
variations, splendida, formosa, vulgaris, and
repanda. If you can possibly get down Sat. a.m.
do so and will spend the afternoon at this
place. Quantity unlimited!

Yours,
Robt. H. Wolcott

Dear Wolcott:                                                   Omaha, May 10, 1905

Your two cards received.  Will bring the specimens of splendida as
desired.  Can not get away before the 2-something train Saturday.  Will it
bee too late to go to the hunting grounds that afternoon?  If not to the
grounds you have found, why not an hour or so on the Basin?  Seems too
bad to waste daylight.  However, you will make the best plans without any
help. -  Collected a fine series of what you will probably assure me
are Lecontei, which I will studiously appear to believe if possible; got
’em on Iowa side, Sunday.  Will bring samples.  May depend on you for a
net, but will get one ready if I can.  Present article in hospital.

Hard work to wait so long.

UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.

OMAHA, NEB.
MAY 15
[illegible] AM
1905

LINCOLN, NEB.
MAY 15
6 - PM
1905

THE SPACE ABOVE IS RESERVED FOR POSTMARK.
POSTAL CARD.
THE SPACE BELOW IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY.

POSTAGE ONE CENT
1843-McKINLEY-1901.

Mr. F. H. Shoemaker,
Care Genl. Auditor,
U. P. Ry.,
Omaha, Nebr.

Lincoln, Monday, May 16, ’05

My dear Shoemaker,

Found certain articles
under my table this morning, which, owing
to my acquaintance with the methods em-
ployed by Sherlock, Holmes, & I, had no diffi-
culty in connecting with their owner, to whom
I have forwarded them per Am. Express, as
being more rapid than freight. Trust the books
will last till they arrive. Addressed them to
the house. Hope you are quite recovered from
your trip, both yourself and Miss Van Sant.

Yours,
Robt. H. Wolcott.

Omaha, May 20, 1905.

Dear Wolcott:

I am booked for New Orleans and Houston, leaving here
on Monday next.  I do not think the trip will take more than
two weeks, so I may hope to see our plans for the near future
carried out.

If you strike town when I am away, however, I want you
to know of a good collecting ground I have found.  Cross the
Douglas street bridge, follow the Council Bluffs street rail-
way tracks around the first bend, and about 100 yards past
a little open waiting station used by a band of local murderers
known as the Gun Club; then turn to the left and go north-like,
your course being at right angles with that of the tracks.
About a quarter of a mile from the tracks you will find a
fairly extensive sandy tract, where I went after four o'clock
this afternoon and found the ground lousy with Lecontei and
generosa (?), also with sandarum, coeliburs, and Canada
thistle.  I collected 36 Lecontei and 42 generosa in about
an hour - the comparatively small number being due to insuf-
ficient activity and accuracy on my part, and not to ^any lack in the sup-
ply in sight.

I fawncy I shall take a net and a bugbottle South.

Very truly yours,