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multiplicity of objects which are constantly inviting 

 his earnest attention, that he will find but little time 

 to devote to mischief. Young and active brains will 

 find occupation ; the old hymn wisely says, ' Satan 

 finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.' Leav- 

 ing his Satanic Majesty out of the question, it is best, 

 as all will agree, to allow our children to occupy them- 

 selves, during leisure hours, in some amusing recrea- 

 tion. What can be better than the enjoyable and 

 health-giving exercise connected with the study of 

 Natural History ? " 



So much for moralizing; now for the subject. I 

 want to reiterate what I have said in the latter portion 

 of the third paragraph, page 4. No matter liow com- 

 mon a desirable species may be, when you meet with it 

 in a locality with which you are unacquainted, proceed 

 at once to collect all you want. I have known of many 

 instances where delay, in such cases, was dangerous, 

 the birds having disappeared in a single night. 



I have somewhere seen a remark made by a distin- 

 guished Naturalist to the effect, that any one could 

 collect birds after a short experience. This I deny, 

 and will further state, that not one person in fifty will 

 ever make a good collector, for the gathering together 

 of birds is a high art. In order to become an emi- 

 nently successful collector, many acquirements aie 

 necessary. A quick eye, a good ear, perfect coolness, 

 accompanied with ready action in emergency, pa- 

 tience in an extreme degree, a tenacious memory, and 

 an utter disregard of such minor troubles as wet feet, 

 scratches from thorns, stings from insects, etc., are 

 among the requisites in the make-up of a first-class 

 collector. 



But the tyro must not become discouraged by read- 

 ing this array, for many of these attributes, if not all 



