Transcribe Lucas, Frederic A. (Frederic Augustus). Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1881-04-07)

Dear Prof. Ward.

By delaying for a day or two we have got off both Chimpanzees, their bringing the bill up to about $1.000. I sent to Prof. Allen a list of the specimens Gerrard sent on approval and he accepts them all, thus furnishing work for some time. Have just sent off a list of the more desirable specimens in Schneider's list and hope that Prof. Allen may take a number of them also. The Elephant manikin acquires form day by day and if the finished piece looks proportionately well it will make a fine animal. Webster and William now have all they can do for three or four weeks, by which time sometimes else may turn up, Hume's lot, or Mr. Barrons, possibly your first shipment. The weather still continues abominable and you can congratulate yourself on being well out of this ironically named Lemperate Lone. So maceration is still a thing of the feature. De Kempenaer has begun the Gorilla and Chimpanzee skeletons so that as soon as weather allows we can have