THE NtDlOLOGlST. 



boxes, all of different patterns. This pecu- 

 liar custom is only equaled by a more recent 

 one for collecting match-boxes. Both of 

 these hobbies are now largel}^ done away 

 with, and never had anything of a hold in 

 America. 



It has nearly always been noticeable that 

 collectors who make collections of articles 

 of great pecuniary value are much given 

 to exhibiting their treasures to others. And 

 it may be honestl}^ said that the pleasure of 

 parading these articles of worth constitutes 

 the main charm in their collecting. There 

 are thousands of collectors of precious 

 stones, rare gems, bric-a-brac, especially 

 china, and old paintings, who would derive 

 no pleasure whatever from the collection 

 were it not that they are stimulated by the 

 fashion of the times, which permits them 

 to make a display. 



It should be a pleasure to collectors to 

 display their treasures to others who are 

 interested, but any evidence of superiorit}^ 

 should be avoided, as it savors too largel}' 

 of pedantry. Then, too, there are man}- 

 collectors who make a great spread with 

 their accumulations who are not conversant 

 with the subject with which they treat up- 

 on. These ignorant fad collectors, who 

 know nothing of the subject the}- are sup- 

 posed to study, are legion in the land. 

 There are many persons who are owners of 

 rare books and pictures, and other works of 

 art, who are illiterate, lacking in artistic 

 taste and totally devoid of refinement. They 

 are vulgar snobs, and the outcome of the 

 collecting fad of the times. They may be 

 placed in the same category with stamp 

 collectors who do not know a thing about 

 history and geography, or egg collectors 

 who are ignorant of the habits of birds. 



Perhaps my readers will think that I have 

 occupied a good deal of space in getting to 

 my subject. But if the exordium is long, 

 the actual subject-matter can be summed 

 up in a very few words. 



Collectors of natural history specimens, 

 one and all, I want to say a word to you. 

 Do not collect specimens of any kind be- 



cause 3^our acquaintances are engaged in the 

 business, as it is too often called. Learn to 

 become capable, painstaking collectors, and 

 if you do not find a gratification in the pur- 

 suit C)f the subject, aside from the simple 

 love of acquisition, then drop the fad at 

 once. If you are not interested in the study 

 of your subject, then you are a detested 

 "fad collector, " and the sooner you subside 

 the better. 



I am sorry to say that fully ninety-nine 

 boys out of ever 3^ hundred would not col- 

 lect birds and eggs were thej' not stimu- 

 lated by the efforts of acquaintances. It is 

 rare indeed to find an instance where a 

 man continues his youthful collection and 

 adds to it year after year. A few instances 

 of this kind have met my notice, and they 

 have nearly always occurred with persons 

 mainly dependent on their own effoits in 

 collecting, and not with those who pur- 

 chased many of their eggs. One collector 

 in particular is brought to mind. The case 

 in question is an acquaintance who has col- 

 lected for years and has a large and valu- 

 able cabinet, and all of his own gathering. 

 He has never done any exchanging, al- 

 though he owns hundreds of desirable sets 

 that could be readily exchanged. 



This man who began collecting as a boy , 

 still collects for the pure love of the pur- 

 suit. He has never sold any eggs, and I 

 do not believe he has expended as much as 

 ten dollars all told in the pursuit, aside 

 from the expense for clothes to be worn in 

 the field. He even makes his own drills 

 and blowpipes and his egg cabinets. 



Another so-called collector is a boy of 

 \Viy acquaintance who has had a well-to-do 

 father to back his many whims. This boy 

 has quite a collection of eggs, skins, etc. , 

 all of which he has purchased. I do not 

 think he has ever found, all told, twenty 

 kinds of nests. The result is that he has 

 dropped out of the ring, as most all of this 

 class of collectors do, and no longer takes 

 an interest in his "boughten" collection. 



I have already made this communication 

 too long, but in conclusion let me give a 



