Volume III !THE STATEf —
Number 4 A Weekly Survey of North Carolina '935
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the taxidermy and painting was done by youths ol high school age.
The ‘Bug-house Boys’
*
ON
К
of the mo*l interesting and
unique mmniii* in the world
i< in Wnshington, North
t’liroliua.
Officially it is known
я*
the Waah-
i
и*
ton Field Museum, hut locally it goes
by the name of the “Bug- House
laboratory." Its member* are known
a* "Bag-
Поме
boy*.”
A number of year* ago, n «mail group
of schoolboys started collecting reptiles,
birds, in wets
я
ud other nature objects.
.Specimens accumulated rapidly and the
idea of a museum occurred to the
young-ters. They went to sec the city
officials about it and a couple of rooms
in the municipal building were turned
отег
for their use. And that it where
the museum got ita start.
A Si/cable Institution
The lads continued their work of col¬
lecting snake* and things. Adults be¬
came interested in the collection and
gave or loaned various specimens, not
all of which were zoological. The
museum became an institution of parts
of departments.
Today tlic collection contains ap¬
proximately 1,500 specimens. Any
town would be proud of it. It is housed
in an attractive log cabin, built in the
form of a block-house and large enough
to accommodate a battalion of soldiers.
Around the structure a park has been
started. The bouse was built a couple
of years ago at a cost of more than
$4,000 and the boys helped to raise some
of this amount.
Grown-ups have no part in the active
management of the Hug-house. It is
•qieritrd exclusively by boys of high-
whool age, and they have done a wonder¬
ful job of it. You will find few or¬
ganization* in this state that are
operated on a higher or more efficient
plane.
In addition to collecting .pccimons,
the boy* also are experts at taxidermy.
A bulletin, telling of the activities of
'he laboratory, is issued bi-monthly.
President of the laboratory is George
W. Boss. There alto are several other
officers; likewise au executive commit-
THEY prist»
оно
of
I li
о
m
о
s I interesting
group of latls you'll find
anywhere in the state,
and they are doing a re¬
markable pioeo of work
down in Washington. C.
By
С. И .
McDevett
lee,
«
stall to publish the bulletin, beads
of departments such as astronomy,
photography, geology, history, oW let¬
ter* and papers, insect*, birds, reptiles,
marine life, etc.
Many Contributions Made
Many adults have contributed money
to the museum's treasury, as well os
specimens for its .-helves and cases. The
late Frank C. Kugler, who was a mem¬
ber of the State Highway Commission,
was one of its staunchest friends. Only
the other day valuable boob for the
laboratory's stall came from Congress¬
man Litidsuy C. Warren. Specimens
also have been given by leading scientific
organisation* of the country. There is
a fine rattlesnake from a federal bureau,
for instance. And, speaking of snakes,
trust thew youngsters to keep up a
magnificent collection, beautifully dis¬
played. Those i* no dearth of specimens
in the Pamlico River country.
Probably the most important part
about the laboratory is the effect it has
had in helping build the characters of
it. members. The fact that a youth is
a member of the "Bug
crowd" U
considered a fine testimonial. It is
'•onsidered us evidence that he is earnest,
Miiecre, anxious to learn and willing to
be engaged in some useful work instead
of frittering away his time.
Considerable Preparation
A youth does not become a member
of the laboratory without quite a bit of
preparation. Nor can even- body be¬
long to the organisation. At the present
(Continued on pag< iwca(y-sir)
