KEMARKS ON THE 

 COLLECTING OF OOLOGICxVL SPECIMENS. 



BY HENRY SM0UTHWAITE, ESQ. 



During the last twenty-five years of the present century, a pursuit, 

 or, if it may be so called, a science, has been gradually gaining ground 

 among that mixed and curious race of people who style themselves 

 "Naturalists." 



It was originally, I believe, confined to those ragged denizens of our 

 country hamlets, who, escaping from the thraldom of the village school, 

 spent the greater part of the stolen hours in '^nesting," that is to say, 

 in abstracting from the ^^procreant cradles," of every Chafiineh, Song Thrush, 

 or Blackbird which they met with, the eggs it contained, and having 

 strung these together, by means of a couple of yards of coarse thread, 

 hanging them up in some conspicuous part of the family mansion, from 

 which state of exaltation and preferment, they were, in most instances, 

 speedily ejected by a ruthless foe, in the person of the '^ladye-mother." 



It was not long, however, before individuals, in a far higher rank of 

 life, and more advanced state of education, began to give their attention 

 to this branch of the great stream of ornithology. Dr. Latham and Colonel 

 Montagu were about the first who formed collections of the eggs of British 

 Birds, and, since the death of the former individual, the adherents of 

 this fascinating pursuit have annually become more numerous, so that, at 

 the present day, "Oologists" are quite as plentiful and persevering as their 

 older brethren — Entomologists and Conchologists. 



I am aware that egg collectors are much less popular than followers 

 of either of the last-named sciences; but I cannot help thinking that 

 those who condemn the practice altogether, judge rather too hastily. Did. 

 it tend towards rendering the hearts of mankind cruel and unfeeling, we 

 should not, I am sure, find so long a list of amiable and excellent men, 

 who have been either lovers, or, at least tolerant, of Oology; I have re- 

 marked too, that the greater number of those who are the most bitter 

 assailants of "the barbarity of robbing birds' nests," are themselves collectors 

 of natural objects, and the very men who would place their "Veto" on a 

 cabinet of eggs, would hang with enthusiasm over a fine specimen of 

 Sphinx atropos, dilating on the' wiles employed in capturing it, and on the 

 means by which it was deprived of life. 



Disregarding, therefore the paltry objections of such persons, it must be 

 confessed that few pursuits can equal, in charm and interest, the one now 

 before us. He must, indeed, possess but a very dull and stagnant mind, 

 who can contemplate without emotions the most pleasurable, the many 

 lovely scenes which come under the observation of the Oologist, whilst en- 



