The Hawkeytfi. and 0, 41 



The markings on number four resemble those on numbers one 

 and two, and have a tendency to collect on the end of the egg. 

 This is the smallest egg in the set, measuring .74X.54 inches. 



NOTED COLLECTIONS— NO. 4. 



BY F. R. STEARNS. 



One of the finest collections of shells in Kansas, and probably 

 one of the finest in the United States, is that owned by Mr. 

 Frank J. Ford, of Wichita, Kansas. He began collecting when 

 only eleven years of age, and for eighteen years the most of his 

 spare time has been devoted to collecting and exchanging. His 

 especial hobby is conchology, but he is also interested in archae- 

 ology and paleontology. 



Mr. Ford's first collection consisted of a few land shells found 

 in Maconpin Co., 111., which he kept in a small box made of 

 scraps of boards and with a cover hinged on with red leather. 

 This little box, about six inches square and two inches deep, he 

 still has in his collection; and it often serves to recall his early 

 efforts at making a collection. 



His collection has now far outgrown the little box, and con- 

 sists of nearly fifteen thousand specimens, ten thousand of which 

 are land, fresh-water, aud sea shells. The remainder consists of 

 Indian relics, of which he has about five hundred specimens, and 

 uumerous minerals, fossils, curios and relics. 



Mr. Ford has his shells arranged in two cases which were 

 made to order, one of them being seven feet high, four feet 

 wide aud two feet deep. This is divided into two parts, the up- 

 per being divided into four shelves having glass doors in front, 

 and the lower into eighteen drawers, each twenty inches square. 

 The other case is eight feet long, seven feet high and one foot 

 deep, with four shelves having glass doors in front, and four 



