Thoreau writes in his journal:
P.M.—Called at Thomas A. Greene’s in New Bedford, said to be best acquainted with the botany of this vicinity (also acquainted with shells, and somewhat with geology) . . .
Brewer, in a communication to Audubon (as I read in his hundred(?)-dollar edition), makes two kinds of song sparrows, and says that Audubon has represented one, the most common about houses . . .
Daniel Ricketson writes in his journal:
At home and about this forenoon, Thoreau busy collecting marine plants from the river side. Went to town this P. M. with Thoreau. Called at Thomas A. Greene’s with T. who wished to confer with him about rare plants and those peculiar to this section – afterwards went to the city library and examined Audubon’s Ornithology for a species of the sparrow which we have on our place and which as yet I have been unable to identify with any described in Wilson or Nuttall.
(Daniel Ricketson and His Friends, 290)