16 



THE OOLOGI8T 



attracts immediate attention. A Be- 

 wick Wren's nest — one of Prof. Dic- 

 key's favorites, huddles neatly into 

 the cup of an old straw hat, where 

 times before it was doubtless shaded 

 from the sun by the broad brim. 

 Nearby is a bookcase where evidences 

 of Prof. Dickey's scientific research 

 are everywhere apparent. His note 

 books and datas are by far the most 

 thorough, complete and wholly satis- 

 factory set of works that I have ever 

 seen. To him a data is not complete 

 if some history of the nest or egg "s 

 not present. He is never satisfied 

 with one side of a data blank, and 

 invariably, I think, both sides are 

 moderately filled. Such thoroughness 

 must have deep commendation I think. 

 In the opposite end of the room, 

 however, is the object to which every 

 eye turns, who is in search for those 

 things for which Sam Dickey is noted. 

 A magnificent case, built at great ex- 

 pense, stands there, fitted with every 

 modern appliance for the preserving 

 of those specimens which mark the 

 advance in stages of Prof. Dickey's 

 remarkably short career. And now 

 the treasure box is opened. Drawer 

 after drawer is gently pulled out, dis- 

 playing to elegant advantage, a collec- 

 tion famous, at least which should be 

 famous, for its excellent data, and in- 

 comparable preparation. I have seen 

 collections, large and extensive, per- 

 haps even more so than Prof. Dickey's, 

 but never have I seen one which so 

 boundlessly excelled in preparation. 

 The holes are exceedingly minute, 

 even in the largest eggs, and show 

 unlimited care and precaution on the 

 part of the collector. His immense 

 collection of Warbler's eggs is quite 

 unique to my knowledge. But to him, 

 his prize eggs are such rare sets as 

 Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Raven, 

 etc. The value of these sets is many 

 times increased by the collector's un- 

 stinted data on the species. 



His nests, which accompany the sets 

 are also very exceptoinally preserved, 

 and are invariably adjuncts to his 

 eggs. On the whole, any amount of 

 praise could not express my sentiment 

 of his collection. It completely chang- 

 ed me — and so do others say when 

 once they have witnessed his eggs. 



I had great pleasure also in meeting 

 Mr. James Carter, who has been the 

 companion of Prcf. Dickey since they 

 were very small. Oddly enough there 

 is but two months' difference in their 

 ages. 



His collection is permeated by the 

 same atmosphere as Prof. Dickey's — ■ 

 that of good preparation. Though his 

 collection is not as etxensive in na- 

 tive Pennsylvania birds as Prof. Dic- 

 key's. Yet it shows great enthusiasm, 

 and care on the part of the collector. 

 He is justly proud of a set of Killdeer, 

 collected at Waynesburg, which is a 

 very rare breeder there, as well as the 

 egg of a Bachmann's Sparrow, which 

 is the only known record for that spe- 

 cies breeding in Pennsylvania to my 

 knowledge. He had rather ill luck 

 with this set as one is apt to have, 

 when dealing with very rare birds. 

 .lames Carter is one of tomorrow's 

 bird men, and Prof. Dickey and I de- 

 sire frankly to introduce him as one, 

 with whose articles the bird maga- 

 zines will soon be filled 



Lastly, I visited the very extensive 

 collection of Mr. Warren Jacobs, 

 whose group of abnormal eggs Is quite 

 famous. A great number of his eggs 

 are in open show cases, which though 

 they display the eggs to great advan- 

 tage, I should think wiser to be placed 

 away from the light. So valuable a 

 collection is scarcely worthy for the 

 vile day light. His collection abounds 

 in rare sets, such as Duck Hawk, and 

 other eggs of much value. His two 

 Passenger Pigeon eggs were unfortun- 

 ately broken while on exhibition. 



