22 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



in a public park I think. It is a 

 great help to those who are studying 

 and an incentive to others to 'take 

 notice.' 



"If the tree is marked, the stroller 

 will stop and read the name, then 

 will glance upward into the tree to 

 see what it is like, will do so with 

 others and so unconsciously begin his 

 nature study. If not marked, the 

 chances are "ten to one that he will 

 not even see it." 



Many New Friends. 



We celebrate our moving into 

 Arcadia (at Sound Beach, Connecti- 

 cut) by the acquisition of many new 

 friends. First, we welcome the entire 

 constituency of "The Mineral Col- 

 lector" which has been merged in 

 The Guide to Nature. Our new 

 department, "Mineralogy," is to be 

 edited by Mr. Arthur Chamberlain. 

 for fifteen years editor of 'The Min- 

 eral Collector." 



Second, the Aquarium Society of 

 Philadelphia, and many of its friends 

 who are interested in aquaria, join our 

 work. The new department, "Aquarium" 

 will be under the charge of Mr. 

 Herman T. Wolf. This addition of 

 a large number of persons who are 

 experts with aquaria will undoubtedly 

 add much of interest to those who 

 have hitherto had only a general or 

 an aesthetic interest in the subject. 



And last but not least we welcome 

 the many more who have come to us 

 through the efforts of our friends of 

 the first year, largely those who have 

 accepted our offer of subscription at 

 seventy-five (75c.) cents a year when 

 sent in addition to one at the new and 

 reduced price of one ($1.00) dollar. 

 A cordial welcome is extended to all 

 these friends and we, in return, offer 

 them the facility for cultivating one 

 of the greatest joys of life, the oppor- 

 tunitv to study and love nature and 

 the natural objects that surround us 

 evervwhere. 



A Magnificent Gift. 



About six years ago Mr. Zenas 

 Crane of Dalton, Massachusetts, 

 founded a museum at Pittsfield, Mas- 

 sachusetts, devoted chiefly to natural 

 history, at a cost of something like 

 $100,000. This museum is well equip- 

 ped and specimens are quite frequently 

 added. I have heard it stated that the 

 equipment has cost more than $50,000. 

 This last month Mr. Crane an- 

 nounced that he would build an addi- 

 tion to the museum costing about 

 $35,000. And it is to be presumed that 

 he contemplates adding more speci- 

 mens. From what I have been able 

 to learn, he could not have made a gift 

 more acceptable to the people of Pitts- 

 field and vicinity. It speaks well for 

 the increasing interest in nature that 

 about $200,000 can thus be used to 

 good advantage in one small locality. 

 Every naturalist will be glad to learn 

 of these magnificent gifts to the cause 

 of nature study. Our Agassiz Asso- 

 ciation especially rejoices and congra- 

 tulates the donor because he is a Life 

 Member, and was a Trustee from 1892 

 to January of this year (when the in- 

 corporation was changed to Stam- 

 ford.) There is no greater mission 

 on earth than to lead others to know r 

 more of the earth, and through that 

 knowledge, its Maker. 



I am wonderfully pleased with "The Guide 

 to Nature" in every way. It is what we have 

 needed and I hope it will get into the hands 

 of all who would most appreciate it. This 

 would give you as large a subscription list 

 as you would want. — Silas H. Berry. 



Eating Eggs Several Years Old. 



The Pekin ducks are domestic birds 

 and are bred in large numbers in this 

 country for the markets. Good specimens 

 sometimes attain a weight of nine or ten 

 pounds. In color they are pure white with 

 orange bills and feet. Like all other do- 

 mestic ducks they are a direct descendant 

 of the Wild Mallard. The breed originated 

 in China, where they are raised in great 

 numbers. 



In their native country the eggs of these 

 birds are very much prized. They are 

 gathered from the nests and packed in 

 crates containing black mud; after which 

 they are stored away to "ripen." A fresh 

 egg is not considered fit to eat by a China- 

 man. Eggs packed in this fashion are 

 often kept for several years before using. 

 — G. D. T. 



This statement as to age of "edible 

 eggs, seems incredible, but it comes 

 from a reliable and well informed breed- 

 er of water-fowl. 



