INTRODUCTION. 15 



turbs the nest and the exact position of the eggs, that the in- 

 trusion becomes very marked. As a rule, a nest should never 

 be visited from the time of its discovery until all the eggs are 

 laid, and an egg should never be taken except from a com- 

 plete set. 



§ Q. Should you find a nest of value, when you have not a 

 box, mark the spot by observing some conspicuous landmark, 

 unless it be necessary to take the nest at once. Otherwise, 

 carry large eggs, and those taken from a hole or a frail nest, 

 wrapped in a handkerchief, and carry small eggs in their 

 nests, placed upright, with a handkerchief tied tightly over the 

 whole. Packing in either case is desirable, soft, clean moss 

 generally being the best material to be found in the woods. 



When a hole is enlarged with a hatchet or knife in order to 

 reach any eggs, the parent almost invariably " deserts," and it 

 is therefore necessary to break it open at the proper time, 

 since aU or no eggs should be taken from such a nest. In at 

 least one of the cases before cited, relating to the Pigeon 

 Woodpeckers, the hole was large enough to allow the inser- 

 tion of the hand and fore-arm. This species, however, as has 

 already been remarked, frequently deepens the hole to lay 

 again ; so do other Woodpeckers. 



§ R. Health, energetic perseverance, honesty, experience, 

 and moderation, are the necessary qualities or cardinal virtues 

 of a wise and successfid collector. For young oologists it is 

 an excellent rule, which has, however, many exceptions, never 

 to take more than one egg from a nest, nor to have m-ore than 

 two or three of one species, except when (very) rare, pecul- 

 iarly marked, or suitable for an advantageous exchange.* 



Jf inexperienced, do not make exchanges with another inex- 

 perienced person, who may unintentionally cheat you, or with 

 one unknown to you, who may purposely cheat you. Kemem- 



* It is now very generally the rule bird life, but at least one specimen of 



to collect egg3 in sets with the nests. each kind of nest is essential for study 



Doubtless this practice leads, in many and comparison. — W. B. 

 cases, to unnecessary destruction of 



