shufeldt] use of materials BY NATURE STUDENTS 49 



the ancients believed almost any kind of a story about their 

 Gods. And since they saw these constellations in the skies night 

 after night they naturally connected them with the stories of 

 their Gods and Goddesses and thus gave them the names which 

 we use to this day. Two interesting little books give these 

 myths: "Storyland of the Stars" by Mary Pratt, American 

 Book Company; "Stars in Song and Legend," Porter, Ginn and 

 Company. For reference books for the teacher almost any 

 standard astronomy like Todd's "New Astronomy," and the 

 deHghtful volume by Miss Martin called "The Friendly Stars" 

 published by Harper's, are excellent. 



Use of Material by Young Nature Students 



By R. W. Shufeldt 



In this article it is my purpose to point out to young nature 

 students, who aim to take a course in biology with the view of 

 becoming professional zoologists, the value of forming, early in 

 life, the habit of making full notes upon all natural phenomena 

 that may come under their observation; and, what is even more 

 important, the saving of all material which might in any way 

 prove to be of use in the future. 



As a working biologist, this is a plan which I have followed 

 for over forty years, and in the vast majority of instances it has 

 been of the greatest possible advantage to me. It has occurred 

 to me that some of my observations on the subject might prove 

 to be of use to young naturalists. 



In the course of my life, many thousands of instances have 

 come to m.y notice where nature material, of every possible descrip- 

 tion and often of great value, has been wasted or thrown away 

 by n.ature students and others, when it could, with a little fore- 

 sight and care, have been utilized, frequently with the most 

 advantageous results, either immediate or remote. Only a few 

 days ago, a case of this kind was brought before me. I hap- 

 pened into a little bird-shop on Park Road, Washington, D. C, 

 and in conversation with the proprietor he informed me that it 

 was too bad I had not come in a few hours earlier, as a young man 

 who collected in the vicinity had given him "Some kind of a 

 lizard," which was so slimy and disagreeable that he had, upon its 



