THE MUSEUM. 
For The Museum. 
Mr. Strecker, who is of German parentage, was born in Philadelphia, on March 
24th, 1836. At a very early age he evinced a fondness for scientific pursuits. Although 
interested in all branches of natural history, and forming collections in many of them, 
he, by degrees, centered his attention on insects, and finally, at about the age of nine¬ 
teen, on the lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) alone, of which he has formed one of 
the finest and largest collections known, far exceeding all others in this hemisphere, 
whether public or private, and holding first rank with the greatest of the Old World. 
A REMARKABLE SCIENTIST AND HIS COLLECTION. 
BY EDWIN A. BARBER. 
Men of science may be divided into two classes : First, those whose surround¬ 
ings have been such that they have been enabled to gratify their natural inclinations 
without stint, and by easy stages have obtained prominence in the world of science; 
second, those who, in the face of frowning fortune, have, by dint of indefatigable per¬ 
severance, succeeded in carving their names high up on the ladder of fame. Of the 
latter class is Mr. Herman Strecker, of Reading, Pa., well known the world over as 
one of the most eminent authorities on butterflies and moths. To such men we are 
largely indebted for our knowledge of the wonderful things in nature. 
