The morning call., 1894-01-19
TOO POOR TO BUY.
The Academy of Sciences
Lose Specimens.
SCIENTISTS ARE SORRY.
Walter Won Rothschild Takes a
Collection
FROM THE ACADEMY MUSEUM.
Collector Beron's Cases of Rare
Birds Taken From the Shelves
and Sent to London.
FROM THE ACADEMY MUSEUM.

English gold has invaded the realm OF
science in this city. and there is no end of
unpleasant COMMENT consequence. That
the higher motive did not prevail has given
rise TO more OF less feeling in certain scien-
tific circles. With regrets there is some
thing akin to disappointment. and the men
whose lives are devoted to studying ma
lures infinite book of secrecy shake their
heads and say SHANE"
The California Academy of Sciences
feels this victory of foreign gold, more par
ticulsrly as Ii has praiseworthy ambitions
AMI an hOnored name among institutions
of its kind all over the world. But now it
mOurns-strietly in seeret-and local or
nithologists are also out Of humor. The
fact is collection of humming- birds, that
has no equal in any museum, was actually
taken out of the academy's museum and
shipped to England. 1t was bought by a
Rothschild.
About year ago students and visitors
to the academy were delighted with a new
display of humming-birds. A large space
Oh the second floor was given up to glass
cases containing many rare specimens OF
these beautiful creatures. From one iron
pillar to another they were placed on orna-
mental stands, forming partition of gor-
geous plumage and presenting a most in
teresting exhibit for all corners. The birds
were mounted as few bad ever been seen
before. There their nests, eggs and young
were preserved true to nature. Their
owner had frequently Tisked his life
among the savages of Ecuador and along
the headwaters of the Amazon, or in
Central America, TO catch them. For
years he had labored and travelled with
one object in view-to gather a perfect col
lection of rarest varieties. Aud as he
iourneye0 on his expeditions he studied
them In life, watched their habits closely,
noted how they few or caught a fayorite
attitude peculiar to each species. With
mind full of what he had observed be
mounted bis birds as true to nature as man
could. Scientists said it was an extra
ordinary collection and the owner smiled
with satisfaction.
Last spring he went to Europe leaving
his collection in the academy museum
1t was his intention to give the birds to
the academy for trifling sum, about what
they cost, which it now seems was ridicu-
lously below their value. He also left
many thousands of rare butterflies and
cOleopteTOus insects, but these he regarded
as has private collection and not for sale.
The academy had the benefit of his birds,
both for study and display. This gentle
man Is well known as a collector and eX-
plorer. He is o. I. Boron, formerly a
civil engineer III Dan r FRANCISCO, VINO saved
sufficient money from his profession to en-
able him TO prosecute his favorite studies
and original work in science. De explored
most of Mexico. Central America, Ecua-
dor, Bolivia and penetrated far into the
interior of South America. But all this
depleted his bank account. Still he offered
his collection Of birds to the academy at
nominal figure.
The academy has 10 money; 1t is too
poor TO spend anything" was the answer
Mr.. Boron received.
While MIR. Boron was in London be met
Walter Won ROthschild of the celebrated
banking nrm 10 singular manner. Roths-
child Is an enthusiastic scientist. His
recreation is taken in the British Museum
or at hls own museum at Tring Park, near
London. He has collected 900 speci-
mems of birds. fishes, mammals, reptiles,
Insects and lower animals In this museum
which was visited by $1,000 persons in 1893.
One day the millionaire scientists eye fell
upon new bug in the British Museum.
h. That is mine" be said.
Money was no consideration, but the
curator exDostulated. adding that Mr.
Boron from California had presen ted il to
the museum. That was the first knowledge
Rothschlld had of Boron, and next day the
two men met. ROthschild received a
duplicate of the bug that had barely been
introduced to science, and be wanted to
buy every butterfly the traveller had with
miDg-birds were spoken of. and the
wealthy man remarked: Send them to
me at your own price"
The birds remained on exhibition in the
academy on Market street, and few people
thought much Of their value Shortly be
fore last Christmas MIR. Boron returned
and quietly packed up his birds. The
academy had no money, so the packing
went on. Nothing more was heard of
them until few days ago, when circu-
lar from the Tring Park Museum was re-
celved by scientists in this city.
A paragraph contained the following in
formation which has given rise to various
comments:
In the public galleries the most note
worthy additions have been the unrivaled
stuffed collection of humming-birds made
by Mr. Boron In the depths of the prima-
val forests of Bolivia and Ecuador" etc
Many of Mr.. Beron's rare butterflies and
bugs or beetles were shipped from the
academy where they had been gathered and
are now IN London and Dresden. Becanse
there was DO money for science at home
California loses Invaluable subjects for
students Hhe flies and birds gave sucb
satisfaction and were so rare Mr.. Boron
was appointed collector for Rothschild
and the famous collector. Salvin of Lon
don, who has handsome building there.
six stories high. filled with bugs and
butterflies as private collection.
Boron has gone to Peru to collect flies
and birds, and it is probable he NAV re-
move his home from San Francisco. in
which case California will have lost an
opportunity which scientists say should
be grasped now that Berkeley and Palo
Alto ard other educational centers are
making advances in all branches of science
and a State museum has become a
0acasSitv.