Letter, Frank H. Shoemaker to I.S. [Isador] Trostler 1905, June 24

Item

derivative filename/jpeg

321301c-0093.jpg

identifier/filename

321301c-0093

title

Letter, Frank H. Shoemaker to I.S. [Isador] Trostler 1905, June 24

description

Typewritten letter, from Frank H. Shoemaker to I.S [Isador] Trostler, "I really do not think you deserve any consideration, but I will waive that matter for the recent and write you a letter."

transcription

Omaha, June 24, 1905.

Dear Trostler:

I really do not think you deserve any consideration, but I will waive that
matter for the present and write you a letter.
With Wallace out of town, Mullen and Skow holding down jobs, and Tros fightin'
fever on the plains, the bird news of this section is rather diminished. I keep
a list of species when I go out, and paw around as of _your_ for nests, but nothing
startling has come under my observation this spring. On June 4th Mr. Scott and
I went over to the heronry, as he was anxious for a look at the big birds at home.
We found them occupying one of the big trees, but there were only four nests. I
took some photos, which I have not yet developed. On the way back I saw a beautiful
_C. sexguttata_ as it flew past and lit on a leaf of poison ivy, whence it
jumped to the ground and scampered into a bunch of the stuff. I was fully aware
of the probable result, but I cared not, and landed head on. I made a grab and
got the beetle, plus a handful of ivy leaves. I was perspiring freely and had
no alcohol along, so the result got around the next day, and stayed by me for
two weeks. I never had such a pretty case; my left wrist was it. Fortunately
the effect is always local and there is no swelling or fever; only the scabby
surface and the attendant intolerable itching. But you should see that tagger;
you know the species - pure brilliant green all over. They are rather common,
no doubt, but owing to the fact that they live in the woods among the grass and
vines they are hard to catch even when they are observed.
I have been quite fortunate this year in finding taggers here. Of course,
_repanda_, _vulgaris_, _splendida_, _amoena_, are common always - in their seasons - but
I have landed some others. I find _hirticollis_, rather sparingly and hard to
catch, on the sand along the river. Early in May, near the Iowa end of the East
Omaha bridge, I found a large colony of _lecontei_, and captured over a hundred.
Then came _formosa_, near the same place, a little later, and I got about a hundred
of them. It is possible that they will be classed as _generosa_, but I hardly
think so, for the color, while lacking the brilliancy of the sandhills specimens,
is still pronouncedly red, while _generosa_, as I understand, is quite dark, almost
black, and at least sure-enough brown. Then came _celeripes_, the little wingless
species. I found them first on the Iowa side opposite the big spring, where we
ferry over to go to the heronry, and captured 147 one afternoon among the scrub
willows back from the river. Later our colony next door got in working order,
and I have picked up a great many at odd times, capturing sixty in about twenty-five minutes last Sunday afternoon. These are "gilt-edge" for exchange; they
are considered rare in collections. I have nearly three hundred now, and will
no doubt get many more. I collected one specimen of _cuprascens_ on the sand by
the river, opposite the spring. Then I went down to Lincoln - Elizabeth and I -
one day, and caught 120 _fulgida_ - that is to say, I caught them. There are among
them about a dozen of the black form which is considered rather rare.
How is that? Now come on with your end of the story.
As for your insult with the ladders and volcanoes and coffins, I am as far
from the truth as ever, if truth or rhyme or reason there be in it, which I doubt.
If you want to send a translation you are at liberty to do so, though I don't
think there is any; it was a piece of pernicious malpractice, and you otter be
ashamed of yourself. On the other hand, mine is perfectly logical, and the result
of personal cerebration at the mature age of thirteen, when I formulated the alphabet,
since which time I have not used it until you forced me to retaliate. I hook
on a key. - With more consideration, sir, than you deserve, sir, under the circumstances,
sir, I beg, sir, to subscribe myself, sir, your rumble and obejent
serf.

date

6/24/1905

subject

Shoemaker, Frank H., 1875-1948

tablecontents/boxes/folders

Box 6

source/RG#/MS#

RG 32-13-01

isPartOf/Collection

Frank H. Shoemaker, Papers and Photographs

creator/photographer

Frank Shoemaker

rights

For copyright information, please contact the repository.

publisher

Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries

language

English

media

321301c-0093.jpg

Item sets

Frank Shoemaker Correspondence - RG32-13-01

Site pages

Frank H Shoemaker, Letters 1905, June

Media

Letter, Frank H. Shoemaker to I.S. [Isador] Trostler 1905, June 24