THE OREGON NATURALIST. 19 



memories which time cannot eradicate. But if It not only affords a great pleasure but a 



there is any thing that should be avoided it is the fascinating study. Not only a pleasing i-e- 



collecting of eggs for colleciing's sake, collect- creation but an ideal exercise. It creates the 



ing simply to increase a collection. 'I'his tend- love for great and glorious things and promotes 



ency is carried entirely too firr and it is for this the qualities which make nobler manliood and 



reason alone that public opinion is against egg womanhood and we are brought fully to realize 



collecting and the oologist is despised and con- that: 



temptible in the eyes of many people. "'" contemplation of created things. 



,,,, . , ,, r 1 ■ 11 • By Steps we may ascend to God." 



1 he Simple collector cf bird s eggs is not an ,__<.^»__,^.^_ 



Oologist or Naturalist, nor should he be reoog- "RANCH MINERS." 



nized as one. The owner of a collection of eggs 



or birds should certainly have a large collection In Jackson and Josephine counties, Soutiiern 



of facts and a redeemable store of knowledge in Oregon, there is a class of people, called "ranch 



payment for the destruction of so many of miners," who are undoubtly better situated, 



nature's blithest and r.weetest creatures. happier and more prosperous as a class than 



We must realize that the only collecting which any other people in the United States. During 



is justifiable is that which is done for the ]nir- the winter months they wash gold from the 



pose of study. streams, by primitive methods in sufficient 



The collectinjj of eggs for the purjiose of ex- quantity to su|iply their wants during the yeai. 



cluiiigiiiji and acquiring a larger collection has When the water in the streams get low, these 



gained too much ground, the idea of depending rustling Oregonijns betake themselves to their 



upon the efforts of others for the specimens of farms adjacent to their mining ground — in many 



a collection has no scient.fic motive whatever cases the same land is alternately a gold mine 



behind it. The taking of eggs for the ]Hi'pose and a farm — and devote the remainder of the 



of selling them for a few paltry dollars is an out- year to a mixed farming tliat nets them good 



rage often perpetratetl under the guise of col- returns, and it is safe to say that a more pros- 



lecting for scieiitilic purposes. ])erous, contented, free-from-debt people would 



A true Ornithologist will work on the line of be hard to find. There is plenty of land to be 



tlie jjrotection of our birds in every way. had at a nominal price. It has been estimated 



Why is the study of nature not encouraged that the gold resources of these two counties 



more in our schools and colleges? Glance at alone, if properly woiked by organized uji-to 



the lives of those who have: achieved greatness, date mining methods, would supjiort a jiopu- 



Have they been immindful of the beauties of lation of 2,CX)0,ooo people. 



nature aiound them? How have they spent * *^^* ♦ • 



., • I r , T II .1 .u An old and curious sword bayonet was found 



their hours of recreation? Has it been on the . •' . 



.1 I .• 1- , I I ., 1 . , "p on a bluff", one mile north of luniper, 



atheletic held or h .ve they sought to combme j r » 



,, , , ■ I I a 1 .• Umatilla couniy. The blade is of steel, while 



the exercise which IS needed with some elevating ' 



, , 5 (. ,1 , • , ., , , >he handle, m.ide of brass in part, has the 



study? .Some study which rather leads one to ' 



, ., . . 11 L , L letter "B" backward, the numerals "n" and 



seek the exercise in a quiet ramble through the '' 



, , , , , , , the letter ".S," stamped on. 



woods where he may learn to real ze the wonders ' _ 



of Nature, thiilled with her music, enraptured Guy Stryker of Milwaukee. Oregon, recent- 

 in his love for the things beautiful around him, ly shot an uncommon visitor to this locality, 

 his mind is elevated and enriched. that was annoying his chickens; a Great Grey 

 Why then do we |)refer the study of Ornitho- Owl; female, 25 inches in length, 57 inches, ex- 

 logy? Because each bird is one of the most tent of wings, stomach empty. Her ladyship 

 lilting representatives of natures beauty and was odorous with the jieifume of Mephitis, but 

 greatness.. never the less has been inounteci. 



