CHAPTEK XL 



COLLECTING BIEDS' EGGS AND NESTS. 



IDENTIFICATION. Positive and unmistakable identification of 

 the builder and occupant of a nest is quite as imperative on the 

 collector as the gathering 1 of the nest and eggs themselves. 

 There must be no guess-work on this point, for eggs without a 

 pedigree are often valueless. If an oological expert is within 

 reach one who can tell to a certainty the species of doubtful 

 eggs, or if the eggs themselves are so characteristic and unique 

 in their shape, size, and markings as to render their certain 

 identification an easy matter, then is it safe to take home a 

 " find " without finding the owner. 



It is only the fledgling oologist who needs to be told that in 

 all cases of doubt regarding the identity (i.e., the exact species) 

 of a nest-builder, the only proper course is to collect the bird as 

 well as the nest and eggs. This may often involve long watch- 

 ing, but it relieves the result from all uncertainty. No collector 

 should think of going afield in quest of nests and eggs without 

 taking his gun along. In South America, the only way in 

 which I could get possession of the wonderful pensile nest of 

 the crested cacique was by cutting off the limb to which it 

 hung, with a rifle bullet. 



In all timbered regions the collector must have a pair of good 

 climbing-irons, such as telegraph linemen use, to enable him to 

 climb with ease the nest-bearing trees that would otherwise 

 defy him. It was before the days of climbing-irons that aspir- 

 ing Sir Walter Raleigh wrote for the fair eyes of Queen Eliz- 

 abeth, 



" Fain would I cliinb, but that I fear to fall," 



to which his august mistress promptly responded with a piece 

 of wisdom which every young oologist will do well to paste in 



his hat : 



" If thy mind fail thee, do not cliinb at all ! " 



