RESULTS OF THE CAMP-FIRES. 301 



Here, piled in apparent confusion, but really classified 

 with the greatest care and labelled so definitely that 

 no chance of error is left, are to be found the thou- 

 sands of specimens which have been obtained not only 

 by his own rifle, but also by exchange and by pur- 

 chase from those who spend their lives in the wild- 

 wood haunts of the fauna of the continent. Trap- 

 pers, hunters, traders, prospectors, and Indians have 

 been drawn upon for specimens, as well as for inci- 

 dents showing the peculiarities of each species, and 

 the result is that many specimens of rare, and in 

 some instances extinct, animals have been preserved 

 for the study of future generations. 



In connection with this subject it should be remem- 

 bered that a complete series must embrace a whole 

 family in all stages of development, in order to show 

 all the characteristics and peculiarities of the animal. 

 Not alone are the old male and female specimens neces- 

 sary, but the calves and young of different stages 

 must be shown to give a good idea of the species. 

 Often it has been necessary to collect specimens 

 from widely separated localities in order to exhibit 

 the peculiar differences brought about by environ- 

 ment. 



While the collection now stored at the university 

 may appear large and beyond the requirements of 

 science, it must be remembered that in many in- 

 stances these specimens will probably, in the near 

 future, be the only representatives of those rare spe- 

 cies which are rapidly becoming extinct. Eight years 

 ago only four specimens of the Rocky Mountain goat 

 were to be found in all the museums of the world. 



