Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-17

lection was kept until he brought it to
Washington for the National Museum.
When l asked him why he gave the
results of his life work to our govern
ment, he said:
1T has been the ambition of my life
to place the National Museum at Wash
lngtOn, so far as butterflies are concerned,
upon a level or in advance of similar in
situations in Europe. l take pride in my
citizenship. although circumstances have
led me to spend the greater part of my
life abroad.
Il thought the American capital should
have the finest American collection in
the world. That is what / have been
working for these thirty years.
1T is natural pride which every native
American ought to feel None of us can
do too much for the glory of our country.
Each citizen has his own special ways
and means. Of course. Some are greater
than others. But patriotism is not to be
measured by results. but by endeavor.
Il have given some old world collec-
lions of butterflies to the Museum Of Ma
tural History In New York. They con-
tain some valuable and unusual spec
linens. But l want my. collection of
American butterflies to remain forever in
Washington.
Where Congress Is Lacking.
Il am quite disappointed. however. that
your Congress is not more liberal in it's
your government. The British parliament
and other national legislatures of Europe
are much more generous in their encour-
asement.
They give everything that is required.
ana they give il promptly. Your Con-
gress has to be appealed to year after
year. and then sometimes, will not do
anything after all.
For example the butterfly rooms of
Z {
these. Over there they would provide
half a dozen buildings for the exhibits
that will have to be crowded into the
new National Museum.
There is higher appreciation of the
value and advantages of such things in
Europe however Perhaps that is natural,
and we can only hope that the American
people will develop an equal interest at
an early day.
Collector Since Childhood.
Il began to collect butterflies in nay
childhood" continued Mr.. Schaus, in re-
ply to my question. 1T was always
passion with me. and such passions
are born in some people. While / was
at Exeter l took more interest in nat
ural history than in the classics, and
| always preferred 10 wander in the woods
looking for butterflies and other speci-
mems than to engage in games with the
other boys.
And before l was of age | had quite
large collection. AS soon as my edu-
cation was finished, III 1881, 1 began to
work in earnest.
Il spent five or six years in searching
Mexico, from the Rio Grande to the
Isihmus of Tehauntepec for butterflies
ami moths. Then / went over into Cen
trail America, where 1 spent two or three
years in the mountains and jungleS,
camping out and moving from place to
place: then through the Antilles, and
afterward to South America. where |
have spent many years searching all of
the countries for new specimens.
Butterflies of South America.
(Which is the richest locality for but
terties? | asked.
The eastern slopes Of the Andes in
Colombia and Ecuador are the richest
mate as one ascends or descends tile
mountains. and because in the eastern
sections of those countries is the largest
natural forest area existing on the globe.
That section. along the ..eadwaterS
OF the tributaries of the Amazon. is
not only the richest in butterflies. but In
all forms OF insect and animal life The
birds are more numerous than elsewhere
and the flora is more extensive.
THE colors of the flowers and the
plumage of the birds are more brilliant.
Colombia is the richest of all coun-
tries. because there are three parallel
dure. and afording every kind of eli
mate from the highest degree of tropical
humidity 10 the chilly atmosphere Of the