ORNITHOLOGIST 
[Vol. 6-No. 1. 
o 
printer for it, but arranged to have the 8ec- 
ond number issued, and made a favorable 
hnaneial adjustment in the meantime. 
Xumber two was printed in Ajiril, and 
showed the good effect of some of the crit¬ 
icisms on the first number, for all that did 
not come within the meaning of its jjrint- 
ed heading was omitted. A series of pa¬ 
pers was commenced in this issue, entitled 
•‘Birds’ Nests and Eggs,” which ran through 
three volumes almost uninterruptedly, de¬ 
scribing tlie nests, eggs, and breeding lo¬ 
calities of many ditt’erent species of birds. 
Number two contained four wood-cuts; two 
of eggs, an illustration of the articles just 
mentioned, a humorous one, and a repre¬ 
sentation of the Green Heron. 
The first two issues were printed in 
coarse tj^e upon thin paper, with scarcely 
any margin, the heading being all “set up” 
in type. Neither came up to the expecta¬ 
tions of their recipients, and as the means 
lor the continuation of the jiaper were 
more than exhausted, the editor withdrew 
the periodical from the iirinter’s hands, and 
concluded that he could neither find the 
means nor encouragement to continue it. 
The writer possesses a deal of enthusiasm 
on oology, and was exceedingly mortified 
that his journal should be an utter faihire; 
for even from association with the two 
numbers already published, he felt that 
nothing else could ever supply its place ; 
it was a hobby of extraordinary tenacious¬ 
ness. Soon after, however, several enquii- 
ies came for specimen copies, some from 
surprisingly remote localities, and one or 
two notices ap])eared in the papers. These 
awakened a fresh determination to continue 
The Oologist, if it was reasonably possi¬ 
ble. The writer, therefore, with his limi¬ 
ted allowance of pocket-money, purchased 
a piece of engraver’s boxwood, and with 
what little experience he had ac<p;ired dur¬ 
ing leisure moments carved out a heading 
for number three of the paper. [When 
this somewhat singular heading was after¬ 
ward discanhnl, it was with more reluct¬ 
ance than one coiild readily account for; 
but it was associated with an experience of 
wliich it stood an appropriate and sympath¬ 
izing symbol.] By dint of some exertion, 
he added a small font of type to a dimin¬ 
utive printing office he had, sufficient to 
compose one page of the paper, and hav¬ 
ing done that, writing And setting type as 
he went, he made ready the form, and ne¬ 
gotiated with a boy friend to print it on 
his press, half-a-mile away. This was done 
one page at a time, until, at the expiration 
of about one month, the May number ap¬ 
peared, embellished with four original 
woodcuts and several engraved minor head¬ 
ings. Improvement over the April issue 
was very manifest; but with hard work at 
school, many pains which would otherwise 
have been taken were neglected. Five 
numbers were printed in this way during 
spare hours and on Saturdays, until, by his 
friend’s ilispc'sal of the press, it became 
necessaiy to do the printing elsewhere. 
The magazine did not make its way read¬ 
ily into recognition. It was a losing and 
consequently discouraging straggle for 
favor with amateur collectors. It did not 
begin to defray the expense of its publica¬ 
tion, which was very small. But at this 
stage of its existence, and with a list of a 
few j'aid subscribers, it seemed injudicious 
au<l unreasonable to relinquish it. Besides, 
it had already become of such importance, 
apparently, as to be frequently cpioted by 
other papers ; and this actuated a sense of 
pride that influenced the writer to continue 
it. To the end of printing the pages, he 
planned and had a neighboring blacksmith 
make him a printing press whose capacity 
(which determined its expense) should be 
jvist that of one page of type, and on it 
the next four numbers were 2 )rinted ; when, 
deeming it necessary to lessen the labor 
imposed by the rude j)rinting machine, he 
disposed of it and purchased an “amateur” 
press of larger dimensions. Volume II 
and a greater portion of Volume III were 
printed on this press. .At this time, how¬ 
ever. the writer found himself somewhat 
sought for small “jobs” of ])rinting. and 
