Re: Avocational micropaleontologists

[Bruce Moore <brucem@xxxxxxx>]

I own a microscope, am an amateur and periodically view/photograph forams,
annelid radula, as well living protozoa.  My primary paleontological 
interests are in articulate brachiopods and bird origins. I am very 
satisfied being called an amateur naturalist. I am a professional 
software engineer, and I feel it would be presumptuous to call myself a 
paleontologist. Also, I enjoy the freedom to follow any whim with regard 
to my hobby. Something unprofessional.

There seems to be hostility against those who maintain private 
invertebrate collections. If not for private collections very few would 
have the opportunity to even see a brachiopod or a trilobite. It is much 
easier to see a dinosaur than a brachiopod in a museum, at least in 
southern California.  I understand the need for large numbers of 
specimens of a single species for determining variations in a population, 
but I think the amateur collector's impact is minimal.  I will not defend 
amateur vertebrate collections.

At least there are enough protozoa's to go around. If you have any good 
sands I would be interested in a pinch.

Bruce Moore