STROUD ROBERT: (1890-1963) American murderer, federal prisoner and author who became a respected ornithologist, known as the Birdman of Alcatraz. T.L.S., Robert Stroud, two pages, 4to, Leavenworth, Kansas, 28th March 1940, to his sister, Miss. Mamie E. Stroud. Stroud thanks his sister for her letters and Easter card, also stating that he had a letter from Marcus, who will be visiting as soon as arrangements have been made, commenting ´It will probably be several weeks, since I want him to get some papers from Washington concerning my copyright on that book Powell published before he comes. If I can get him to do what I want done, I will have no trouble collecting that money due me from Powell, but from some things in his letter, I am beginning to have my doubts that I will have much luck in that respect. There are a great many persons in the world who have the stupid habit of seeking and acting on the advice of persons who know nothing about the situation involved. Bird breeders are always complaining of them, and I have met quite a few myself. They come to buy a bird and after listening to what is said about the different birds offered, they will turn to some person who knows nothing of birds and ask that person´s advice. Mother was that way. She would take the advice of persons who had raised one nest of birds and ignore mine, when I had raised hundreds´. Stroud further sends news of his own ornithological pursuits, ´The birds are still doing fine. Two more babies hatch and one of the first two that hatched was lost; but I never expect much from the first round. As soon as the weather gets a little warmer, they should settle down to work and pop me out a nice flock of babies in a very short time´, also offering advice to his sister, ´I hope that you have good luck with your garden. I would give that bird more of the wild greens than garden truck, however. They are better from him. That is the one thing that is probably holding my birds back a little. I have not been able to get any wild greens for them yet. The grass is coming up very slowly and I have not seen any chickweed at all yet. A few more warm, damp days, like today, should bring everything up in a hurry´. Stroud concludes by referring to his own health and histology, mentioning a small skin tumour that had been removed, ´The cut is healing nicely, now, however, and the only thing that is bothering me is my anxiety to get sections of this tissue under the microscope, so I can tell just what it is´. A letter of good content for its extensive references to birds. VG