XXll 



namus of bird^, iiiainraals, inseclA (if latter possess 

 vulgar names), etc., which they see, but they do know 

 much of the life and habits of these and other forms of 

 life. Tlie information which this class of people 

 possess concerning birds, mammals and insects, if 

 ^iven wide i)ublicity, would be worth thousands and 

 thousands of dollars annually to the citizens of this 

 Commonwealth. Turn your attention in another di- 

 rectioii; go among men high in social and educational 

 rank, or those who have gained marked distinction 

 and place in the political field, and speak of the impor- 

 tance, yes, the dire necessity of issuing at public ex- 

 pense books on natural history topics, and in the ma- 

 jority of instances you will find they decry such propo- 

 sitions "as a useless outlay of public funds." During 

 the past ten years the time of the writer has been 

 largely occvpied m preparing books, reports, papers 

 and bulletins for gratuitous distribution. By such 

 work and an extensive experience in the lecture field, 

 it has been learned that to meet with popular favor 

 and have books, etc., read by the average citizen, one 

 must eliminate in his writings all technical matter pos- 

 sible, and at the same time embellish with numerous, 

 well designed and truthfully executed illustrations. 

 The naturalist who prepares books or other documents 

 which the average school child can read intelligently 

 will do much more service to the present and future 

 generations than the one who prepares strictly tech- 

 nical matter that can only be i)erused by the general 

 reader with the aid of dictionaries. In future years, 

 when the hand that pens these lines is still in death 

 or has returned tO' mother earth, the great importance 

 of the many ti'uths contained within the pages of this 

 work will become apparent. This statement last 

 made is given not because the writer is so egotistical 



