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This afternoon I had a call from two Chinese. They are collectors sent out by the China National Government, which is building up a museum of natural history in Nanking. One is collecting birds, and the other fish and reptiles The collector of birds was glad to purchase the duck which I did not want. They knew about me from the reports of new species I have sent in published by Dr. Stejneger, new species of frogs, lizards, snakes, etc.

I received word today from the Royal [[strikethrough]]Asiatic[[/strikethrough]] ^[[Geographical]] Society that I am now a fellow of that society, with the degree F.R.G.S. This seems strange in a way. All my collections have gone to our own National Museum, but this recognition came from British Geographical Society.

Dec. 1. Today I secured a gull that is much whiter than those I have sent in before, and also a large sparrow hawk or kite that seems to be different from those previously sent in.

My busy season is over tonight, and in a few days I expect to take a trip in which I can do some collecting. I want to send in my financial report soon, and to mail several more boxes of specimens.

Dec. 2. Labelled boxes 468, 469, 470, skeletons and 471 fish.

Dec. 3-4. Filled box 472, birdskins. Purchased a live hare, and one bird. Mailed boxes 468-471. Mammal no. 317. Worked until midnight fixing the hare.

Dec. 5. Filled box no. 473, birds and rabbit, skins.

The netter Lai collected water insects. I gave him a lesson about skinning birds.

Dec. 6. Today I purchased the skin of a wild dog or wolf that was killed by a Chinese hunter two or three days ago. It is a wild animal but looks as if it might be a half breed--half tame dog and half some wild animal. Mammal no. 318.

I have been purchasing birds killed by Chinese hunters. This is really cheaper than shooting them myself, and I have the pick of what a large number of native hunters are getting.