This volume contains extracts, chiefly in an unknown hand (probably Charles Waterton), from Ord's letters, 1831-1835, criticizing Audubon as a man and as a naturalist. Ord wrote the last part of the volume (signed and dated June 29, 1838), and there are manuscript comments by Charles Waterton.

Winfrid Alden Stearns (1852-1909) was an amateur naturalist, ornithologist, and ethnologist who corresponded with several prominent experts in the natural sciences. Among his works were a collaboration with surgeon and naturalist Elliot Coues, New England Bird Life (1881-1883) and the self-published A Manual of Ornithology (1895) that was heavily criticized by university-trained naturalists. The collection consists of original letters with details about Stearns' publications, specimen donations, and ornithological work from 1871 to 1906. There are letters concerning his editorial collaboration with Coues and others, Stearn's works, and Stearns' travels to Newfoundland. Of particular interest are two letters from Charles Bendire accusing Stearns of inaccurate classification of specimens and poor proofreading of his manuscripts. (Both Stearns and Bendire worked with Coues.) The collection contains a picture of the museum Stearns curated in the 1880's.

This material relates to Alexander B. Grosart's biography of Wilson. There are notes and copies of letters and documents, including a copy of Wilson's will. There is one poem by Wilson, "The Last Wish," and an 1806 letter to William Bartram.