76 FIELD ORNITHOLOGY part i 



course stationary objects, and consequently more liable to be over- 

 looked, other things being equal, than birds themselves. Most birds 

 nest on trees or bushes ; many on the ground and on rocks ; others in 

 hollows. Some build elegant, elaborate structures, endlessly varied 

 in details of form and material ; others make no nest whatever. 

 Egging is chiefly practicable in May and during the summer ; but 

 some species, particularly birds of prey, begin to lay late in winter 

 or early in spring, so there is really a long period for search. Par- 

 ticular nests, of course, like the birds that build them, can only be 

 found through ornithological knowledge ; but general search is 

 usually rewarded with a varied assortment. The best clue to a 

 hidden nest is the action of the parents ; patient watchfulness is 

 commonly successful in tracing the bird's home. As the science of 

 oology has not progressed to the point of determining from the nests 

 and eggs to what bird they lielong, in even a majority of cases, the 

 utmost care in authentication is indispensable. To be worth anything, 

 not to be worse than worthless in fact, an egg must be identified be- 

 yond question ; must be not only unsuspected, but above suspicion. 

 A shade of suspicion is often attached to dealers' eggs ; not neces- 

 sarily implying bad faith or even negligence on the dealer's part, but 

 from the nature of the case. It is often extremely difficult to make 

 an unquestionable determination, as, for instance, when numbers of 

 birds of similar habits are breeding close together ; or even impossible, 

 as in case the parent eludes observation. Sometimes the most acute 

 observer may be mistaken, circumstances appearing to prove a 

 parentage when such is not the fact. It is in general advisable to 

 secure the parent with the eggs : if shot or snared on the nest, the 

 identification is unquestionable. If you do not yourself know the 

 species, it then becomes necessary to secure the specimen, and retain 

 it with the eggs. It is not required to make a perfect preparation ; 

 the head, or better, the head and a wing, will answer the purpose. 

 AVhen egging in downright earnest, a pair of climbing irons, a coil 

 of f inch rope, and a tin collecting box filled with cotton, become 

 indispensable ; these are the only field implements required in 

 addition to those already specified. 



Preparing" Eggs. — For blowing eggs, a set of special tools is 

 needed. These are egg-drills, — steel implements with a sharp- 

 pointed conical head of rasping surface, and a slender shaft ; several 

 such, of different sizes, are needed ; also, blow- pipes of different 

 sizes, a delicate thin pair of scissors, light spring forceps, some little 

 hooks, and a small syringe. They are inexpensive, and may be had 

 of any dealer in naturalists' supplies (see Figs. 4-7). Eggs, should 

 never be blown in the old way of making a hole at each end ; nor 

 are two holes anywhere usually rcqiiired. Opening should be 

 effected on one side, preferably that showing least conspicuous or 



