MEMBERSHIP NEWS 
the taxidermist’s shop, buying- the bird book, visits to a woodland re- 
treat where he built a hut which was later defiled by tramps. These 
and other incidents we now learn were autobiographical in the former 
story. A frail body and ill health handicapped him greatly in youth, 
and poverty was a further barrier in the path to success. However, 
young Seton was possessed of unusual talents and mental ability, which 
made his progress steady. At last he surmounted all obstacles and in 
maturity achieved the success and fame toward which he had set his 
course early in life. It is an inspiring story, 
Manitoba and the Canadian Northwest 60 years ago furnished a 
fruitful field for the author’s nature studies. He saw the region in its 
virgin opulence; later, with the passing decades he watched the wild 
life slowly disappear — due to settlement and the drying up of the 
country* Birds, a first love, were a major interest through life and 
are given a prominent place in the book. There are hunting anecdotes 
aplenty— moose hunts, wolf hunts, and encounters with Indians and 
frontier desperadoes. Even his several journeys to London and Paris 
to study art were not without exciting adventures. In later life he 
became a wealthy man with ample opportunity to do the things he 
wished. At this time he says, “For long my theory of life has been to 
take two trips into the wilderness each year and spend six months on 
each trip”. 
Mr. Seton was an exacting journalist all his life. He thus had at his 
elbow an abundant source of material to use in his writing. He de- 
scribes his record-books: u . . . . the Journal of my Travels and 
Doings is on my desk before me — fifty fat leather-clad volumes, most 
of them over-fat, and still increasing. Scribbled in pencil, ink, water 
color, anything; smirched with the blood of victims sacrificed on the 
altar of the knowledge-hunger ; burned with sparks of the camofire; 
greasy with handling by unwashed, hasty, eager hands; badly written; 
at times badly illustrated with hasty sketches — hasty but meaningful. 
A bookseller would not give a dime for the lot, and l would not part 
with them for a double million. They represent more than anything 
else those sixty years of my life and thought, my strivings and my 
joy.” — F. J. P. 
MEMBERSHIP NEWS 
Most of the June, 1941, issue of ‘Nature Notes’ (Peoria, Illinois) is 
occupied with an article on ‘Field Identification Iowa Mammals’, by 
Thomas G, Scott, one of our well known Iowa writers and naturalists. 
The article is full of information and is well illustrated. 
As usual at this season of the year, our information on the vacations 
of our members is very meager, and we can give only a partial renort. 
We report quite belatedly that Mrs. Janet DuMont spent the past winter 
at San Antonio, Texas, and returned to her home at Des Moines in late 
April. Mr. and Mrs. Ross J. Thornburg, of Des Moines, have left on a 
tour of the W r est and expect to be away a year or two. They are ardent 
bird students and will no doubt find many new and interesting birds in 
the western states. Mr. and Mrs. Win. Buzbv, of Boone, enjoyed a 
trip to California and the West during late June and July. Among 
Ames vacationists were Dr. and Mrs. Paul Errington, who spent the 
summer on a ranch in Montana, and Dr. and Mrs. George Hendrickson, 
who visited their daughter at Washington, D. C. Leaving Washington 
the Hendricksons visited Philadelphia, New York City, Albany, Niagara 
Falls, Cleveland and Chicago. Rev. M. C. Melcher and family, Central 
City, visited Columbus, Ohio, during August. Dr, and Mrs. T. C. 
Stephens spent a part of the summer at the Lakeside Laboratory, Mil- 
ford, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lambert, of Hampton, visited Salt 
Lake City and other points in the West during August. 
