THE OOLOGIST. 



25 



Editoral Notes and Clippings. 



The series of three Photos of Belted 

 Kingfishers by R. H. Beebe appearing 

 in current number of American Or- 

 nithology are works of art considering 

 the difficulties attending this work. 

 The illustrations in this Number are 

 tine and must be seen to be appreciat- 

 ed. 



The interesting article on " Birds of 

 tlie Galapagos Islands " by R. H. 

 Beck, in the current number of the 

 " Condor " is worthy of the attention 

 of every Ornithologist and Oologist. 

 The fine half-tones from photos taken 

 on the Islands add greatly to its value. 



Mr. Silloway also contributes an 

 instructive article on the breeding of 

 Montana birds including Townsend's 

 Warbler and Ruby-crown Kinglet. 



There has lately passed through my 

 hands an unusual set of Olive-backed 

 Thrush. It was taken by Mr. W. A. 

 Davidson in Wayne Co. Mich., June 

 22d, 1890. 



Nest six feet from ground in a bush, 

 built of leaves, twigs, fine rootlets and 

 strips of Cedar bark. 



Sets of this bird from Michigan are 

 very rare and this is an exceptionally 

 tine set; very large measuring 1.00 x 

 .()•», 1.05 X .72 and 1.02 x 72, .99x.72 and 

 beautifully marked with shades of light 

 red, brown and lavender so profusely 

 that the set looks like an undersized 

 set of Sennett's Thrasher, l^nfortun- 

 ately one egg was slightly damaged in 

 preparing the set but, both as to local- 

 itj^ and beauty, it is unique in my 

 experience. 



ED. 



The Editor has just inspected two 

 tine sets of 5 eggs each, Mexican Cor- 

 morant, taken by F. B. Armstrong, 

 near Brownsville, Texas, on the 16th 

 of Oct., 1908. Incubation fresh. 



Hows that for a breeding date ? 



We note with regret the serious dam- 

 age to the collection of Mr. F. T. Noble 

 of Augusta, Me., during the fire on 

 the morning of Jan. 7th. 



The Collecting Habit. 



Occasionally, we hear some unappre- 

 ciative parents express regret, when 

 their children begin to develop the 

 tendency to collect. 



Some w'ill object to tlie small ex- 

 pense involved, or to the time which 

 maybe taken up in the collecting, or 

 to the space occupied in the house by 

 the collection. 



Now, as an experienced parent, teach- 

 er and pastor, I want to enter my pro- 

 test against such opposition to collect- 

 ing. Young minds must become 

 acquainted wath the world in which 

 they live, and especially with the 

 works of nature, which are the works 

 of God in nature. 



And every child's mind will be bet- 

 ter and happier if he can learn the 

 facts of the world in ways which afford 

 delight while learning. It is a secret 

 kn(jwn to all careful thinkers in child 

 study, that whatever enters into the 

 young mind with delight, makes a 

 strong and enduring impression. This 

 is the great secret of the Kindergarten. 



Again, a second great secret, in de- 

 veloping a child's mind, is to remem- 

 ber his great desire to handle the 

 things with which he is so delighted, 

 and to possess them, as his own. 



Therefore, when a child is old 

 enough, let him begin to collect 

 something, especially the works of 

 nature, such as shells minerals, etc. 

 And thus you will fix his mind in the 

 things which delight him. and which 

 arouse in him an active enthusiasm, 

 which will go far towards sustaining 

 his interest in his studies, in later 

 years, when the more artificial methods 

 of study and teaching must be taken 

 up, in school. 



As to expense, a habit of collecting 



