340 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [12:8— Nov., 1916 



than half a century ago, I believe there are still times when they 

 have, even now, their due effect in encouraging me in my work 

 when things do not go quite right — indeed, I know they do. 



I have carefully studied the illustration of Jerry's museum 

 especially the animal specimens he has brought together. There 

 are not a few things in it which he will soon learn to do a little 

 better, and possibly I will call attention to them in some future 

 article. I may say right here, however, that one of the principal 

 things that demand his attention is the better care of the insects 

 he collects, particularly the moths and butterflies. Several of 

 these he has pinned up on the .wall are mutilated and otherwise 

 imperfect. His next investment should be a few helpful books 

 on such subjects — books giving full information as to how to go 

 to work in the right way ; for it is just as easy to do things the right 

 way as to do them in an entirely wrong way. There are several 

 excellent works on the proper methods to be followed in the collect- 

 ing and preservation of all kinds of insects ; also elementary works 

 on taxidermy; the scientific manner of preserving, studying, 

 and arranging all kinds of specimens of animal forms, as well as 

 plants, and so on. But, as I say, later on I trust to publish in the 

 Review some of my own methods in such work, adapted to the 

 needs and requirements of boys of Jerry's age — maybe even of those 

 not a little older. 



Speaking of insects, I may say that there are few departments 

 in the biological sciences that offer more interesting material 

 for study than does the enormous host of forms that go to make 

 up this division of animal life in nature. We find them every- 

 where, and we soon come to appreciate the fact that the hundreds 

 of species found in any region or locality in this country fall 

 naturally into three classes: the aquatic insects, the semi-terres- 

 trial ones, and the strictly terrestial species. Another charm 

 about the study of insects is the fact that, even among some of 

 the most abundant kinds, there is yet so much to learn of which we 

 practically know nothing. Life-histories of scores of our com- 

 monest forms still remain to be written ; and the only way in which 

 the material for such productions can be scientifically observed 

 is by studying those forms in nature, and by keeping them in 

 vivaria and aquaria at home, the conditions being as nearly as 

 possible the same as those they enjoy in their several environments 

 in nature. 



