Transcribe McNiel, J. A. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1876-01-01)

Page 3 Under the circumstances you can have No 14 or $12.50 off from the original price. ? $$30. and apply on acr.

     I am confident my shells are packed so

as bear any ordinary transportation, if not tampered with after leaving here.

     Heretofore I have had no orders from Nat-

uralists, and have not been quite as fas- tidious in selections etc. when packing for the prices paid by those parties who care less for perfection than for show.

    The dry season is at hand , and I hope in my

next shipment, to come nearer your wants. I have now, in alcohol /Sloth young,? White faced monkey, / ?, like Opossum, called 'Soro' here. The arrivals you enquire about, are attain- able; but the people are too indolent to bring them to the town, unless they are paid exorbitant prices. I have been trying to engage mature spe- cimens of ? ?. No one has offered to bring one for less than $20. - Say they weigh 250 to 300 lbs. It is impossible for you to comprehend one half of the obstacles one meets with here,