FIRST PROFESSIONAL WORK 65 



and its diversity in environment naturally makes 

 it the resort of a varied bird fauna. 



I cannot pass over this part of my life without 

 recalling and recording my impressions of the 

 people as well as of the country and birds. Here 

 I renewed my acquaintance, made the previous 

 summer, with Mr. Johonnot, who was at the head 

 of the normal school, and became acquainted with 

 the members of his family. 



This school was remarkable as a radical de- 

 parture from schools of a like grade that had 

 existed up to that time. Its attitude and purpose 

 is best told in an article devoted to the subject. 1 

 The fact that a collection of birds such as I have 

 described was deemed an essential part of its 

 equipment indicates something of its character 

 and purpose. 



Students in the school, many of them young 

 men twenty years old and more, became interested 

 in Mr. Straight's efforts, and aided him much in 

 the work; most of them were ardent sportsmen, 

 and they procured some of the most valuable 

 specimens. The local gunners were ready to 

 afford whatever aid they could, and I frequently 

 went with one or another of them on extended 

 trips. 



1 " The Story of a School," by Professor James Johonnot. The 

 Popular Science Monthly, Vol. XXXIV. No. 4, p. 496. February, 

 1889. 



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