WINTER WORK FOR NATURALISTS. 



T XTHEN winter has come fairly upon ns, ont-door work in most cases 

 ▼ * must be exchanged by the naturalist for that which may be carried 

 on within doors. There need not, of course, be an entire suspension of 

 the collector's labor. Fungi spring up by the myriad on every side, 

 mosses seem to take on a new vigor, and a few hardy wild-flowers brave 

 the storms, repaying the diligent botanist for his walk. The entomologist 

 may be able to find dormant larvae underground, or beneath loose bark, 

 if he take the trouble to search for them ; and any one can get a certain 

 number of species of birds and quadrupeds at this time, not .likely to be 

 seen at the opposite season of the year. In a subsequent chapter I shall 

 sketch the way in which the animal life of the northern part of the 

 country meets and endures frost, snow, and chilling temperature. 



But, as a rule, the naturalist looks forward to the winter as a. time of 

 rest from such labors, when he may devote himself to the study of the 

 treasures which his summer jaunts have yielded him. The botanist ar- 

 ranges his delicate dried plants in clean papers, labels and classifies them 

 in permanent shape. The oologist brings out his nests and eggs in the 

 long evenings, sets the former into paper shells or suitable boxes, and 

 arranges the eggs in his cabinet anew, making room for the novelties. 

 The cOlichologist lays aside his duplicates for exchanges, and notes points 

 of interest about lately acquired specimens. Microscopists busy themselves 

 in mounting new slides and careful examination of old ones, while, un- 

 mindful of wind and snow outside, the chemist or electrician is engrossed 

 in experiments with novel contrivances for extracting Nature's secrets. 

 Least of all does he look forward with dread to the confinement of win- 

 ter who is happy in the possession of a thriving aquarium, for here is a 

 little square bit of green and growth, preserving to him the idea of sum- 

 mer if nothing more. 



But there is a class of persons who, while they certainly feel an inter- 



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