4 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



it was made so by the enthusiast. Night and day he 

 pored over his books, only leaving them when dragged 

 away by his fellow-students, who saw that he was 

 breaking himself down by his close application. But 

 even his recreation was work. He wandered over 

 the fields and along the river, collecting insects for 

 Professor Snow, and became so expert that he was 

 afterward regularly employed by the professor to 

 assist him in making his collection. From this 

 source he obtained a considerable sum of money, 

 which went toward defraying his expenses. 



The university was then in its infancy, and Dyche 

 saw that by properly combining his studies he could 

 master more than one course at a time, and to this 

 end he devoted himself. So well did he apply his 

 vigorous mind that at the end of five years he grad- 

 uated at the head of his class, obtaining two degrees. 

 Nor did he stop here, for when he was preparing for 

 new fields, Professor Snow offered him the position 

 of assistant in his department. Under the guidance 

 of the professor the young man became invaluable to 

 the university, and the chair of anatomy and physi- 

 ology was created and given to Dyche. Later on the 

 branches of zoology, animal histology, the curator- 

 ship of birds and mammals, and the practical work 

 of taxidermy were placed under his direction and 

 guidance, with a corps of assistants. 



The museum of the university, where stands the 

 finest collection of mounted animals in the world, tells 

 how well he has done his duty, and to the story of 

 the incidents and adventures of the young man's life 

 while in search of these mammals the pages of this 

 book are devoted. 



