THE OOLOGIST 



183 



From an Old Timer. 

 Editor "Oologist": — 



In recent issues of The Oologist 

 have appeared editorial statements to 

 the effect that a word, now and then, 

 from the oologists and ornithologists 

 of the earlier days was acceptable — ■ 

 they of the older school. 



The writer of this commuication is 

 one such. I was pleased to observe 

 the mention made, in the December 

 issue, of Jesse T. Craven, accompan- 

 ied by a cut of a section of his col- 

 lection of birds. Craven, though now 

 of Detroit, originated farther East, be- 

 ing an offspring of the same county 

 as was the writer — Orleans County, 

 New York. 



In the late '90's the writer was mak- 

 ing rather extensive research into the 

 ornithology of that county, and was 

 establishing a collection of mounted 

 birds representing the avi-fauna of 

 that county. In those days, I became 

 acquainted with Craven — had con- 

 siderable correspondence with him, 

 and visited him at his home in Holley. 

 I found that he had taken at differ- 

 ent times, in that end of the county, 

 some specimens of unusual or less 

 common occurrence — there was al- 

 ways something of interest to learn 

 from him, and I also secured from 

 him, by purchase or exchange, some 

 of the less common birds to add to 

 my collection of county birds. 



I started my subscription to The 

 Oologist in 1885, one year later than 

 the little journal began its career, and 

 I have been a continual subscriber 

 ever since. During the year 1890, I 

 was associate editor of The Oologist, 

 which meant that I was virtually edi- 

 tor, as Lattin left the publication al- 

 most entirely to me, being engaged 

 much of the time with his natural his- 

 tory and curio business, and extensive 

 exhibits at the Chautauqua and Ex- 

 positions throughout the country. 



Where now are the contributors, 



who in those days favored the Oolo- 

 gist? A new company of contributors 

 are now providing the journal with 

 its reading matter. In those days, the 

 photographing of birds in their native 

 haunts just began to be, and most in- 

 teresting of all the articles that come 

 to my desk in those days of 1890, were 

 the articles (running through several 

 issues) on "The Use of the Camera 

 in the Field," by E. S. Cheney of 

 Pitrodia, South Dakota, and later of 

 Mill City, Oregon. Where is Cheney 

 in 1911? I have his photo in an old 

 album of mine; so have I Bowdish's 

 and those of several others of the 

 bird fellows of about my class. Bow- 

 dish we hear from occasionally, but 

 who has heard anything from Cheney? 

 Speak up Cheney, you have the floor. 



As for myself, if personal mention 

 be not presumptive, I have been for the 

 past ten years, a resident of one of 

 the oldest cities west of the Alle- 

 gheny mountains — Vincennes, Indi- 

 ana. At present, I am the manager of 

 one of the manufacturing industries 

 here. The enclosed photo will show 

 you that I still retain an interest in 

 the birds, and am not too busy to de- 

 vote some little time to them, even to 

 the extent of getting out into the 

 woods with note book and pencil in 

 midwinter, and wading the snows of 

 the forest to find them. 



I will now close my communication 

 with two thoughts — one of which I 

 know will please; the other, maybe 

 The first thought is an expression of 

 my appreciation of The Oologist as it 

 is todaj', and backed up by my renewal. 

 I have taken the Oologist since 1885, 

 and expect to take it till I die. Should 

 I ever get so busy as not to have time 

 to read a single word in it, I shall 

 still continue to subscribe for it. It 

 has been visiting me regularly (and 

 irregularly) too long now, for me to 

 turn my back upon it. Enclosed find 

 the f.ftv cents. 



