











NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 487 
Lake Coeur d’Alefie, and at the ferry over that river. They can be seen 
in the clear water several feet beneath, completely covering the bottom 
like mussels (Myti/i) on shoals along the seashore, standing edgewise 
among the large stones. 
Spherium occidentale Prime. — Spokan river, September 1860. 
Unio Oregonensis Lea? —I saw a few valves in Spokau river, below the 
upper falls. 
Ancylus Kootaniensis Baird.—Spokan river, below lower falls, on stones, 
September, 1860; common. —J. G. Cooper, M. D 
Hits ox Oörocy.—In „every branch of natural history, collections 
must be formed and suitably classified to enable the student to compare 
one specimen with another, and thus secure to science the benefit arising 
ons. mere collecting of specimens, it is true, has 
me one of the least of the objects desired by scientific men, yet in no 
pursuit is there more need of care and accuracy, than 
nthe collection and identification of specimens of natural history. An 
Y is this true in an odlogical collection, where the identificatio 
Specimen ought to be the main object of the collector. 
easiest and most Satisfactory method of identifying a nest of eggs,- 
“Shooting or catching one or both the parent birds to which the nest 
belongs, but at times this is impossible and other means must be sought. 
i mine carefully the situation of the nest, of what materials it is com- 
Posed; notice the locality, what species frequent it, and make a record of 
these . In this manner the true 
a 
ase and kindred observations in a note-book 
3 
on 
re liable to swell and burst the shell if handled. Fig. 1. 
e speci l 
~ are small drills and a syringe, though, when convenient, the use 
L Pipes and elongated scapels will be very useful. It is considered 
i ™ to hold the egg over a basin of water when blowing it, that it 
A injured if it slips from the fingers. Some oölogists preserve 

