50 FIELD ORNITHOLOGY. 



case the anvil-shaped bones, the palatal cylinders already mentioned, and sometimes other 

 portions come apart, the whole are best kept in a suitable box. I prefer to see a skull with 

 the sheath of the beak removed, though in some cases, particularly of hard-billed birds, it 

 may profitably be left on. The completed preparations should be fully labelled by writing on 

 the bone, in preference to an accompanying or attached paper slip, which may be lost. Some 

 object to this, as others do to -WTiting on eggs, that it " defaces " the specimen ; but I confess 

 I see in dry bones no beauty but that of utility. 



'' In many families of birds, as the ducks (Anatidrs), the trachea or windpipe of the male, 

 affords valuable means of distinguishing between the different natural groups, or even species, 

 chiefly by the form of the bony labyrinth, or bulla ossea, situated at or just above the divari- 

 cation of the bronchial tubes. A little trouble will enable the collector in all cases to preserve 

 this organ perfectly, as represented in the annexed engraving (fig. 3). Before proceeding to 

 skin the specimen, a narrow-bladed knife should be introduced iuto its mouth and by taking 

 hold of the tongue (A) by the fingers or forceps, the muscles {B B) by which it is attached to 

 the lower jaw should be severed as far as they can be reached, care being of course taken not 

 to puncture the windpipe (C C) ; and later in the operation of skinning, when dividing the 

 body from the neck or head, not to cut into or through it. This done, the windpipe can be 

 easily withdrawn entire and separated from the neck, and then the sternal apparatus being 

 removed as before described, its course must be traced to where, after branching off in a fork 

 (D), the bronchial tubes (E E) join the lungs. At these latter points it is to be cut ofi". Then 

 rinsing it in cold water, and leaving it to dry partially, it may, while yet pliant, be either 

 wrapped round the sternum, or coiled up and labelled separately." — (A. Newton.) 



§ 9. — COLLECTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Ornithology and Oology are twin studies, or rather one includes the other. A collec- 

 tion of nests and eggs is indispensable for any thorough study of birds ; and many persons 

 find peculiar pleasure in forming one. Some, however, shrink from " robbing birds' nests" 

 as something particularly cruel; a sentiment springing, no doubt, from the sympathy and 

 deference that the tender office of maternity inspires ; but with all proper respect for the 

 humane emotion, it may be said simply, that birds'-nesting is not nearly so cruel as bird- 

 shooting. What I said in a former section, in endeavoring to guide search for birds, applies 

 in substance to hunting for their nests ; the essential difference is, that the latter are of 

 course stationary objects, and consequently more liable to be overlooked, 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. In this country, egging is 

 chiefly practicable in May and during the summer; but some species, particularly birds of 

 prey, begin to lay in January, while, on our southern border at least, the season of repro- 

 duction is protracted through September ; 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 clew 

 to a hidden nest is the actions 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 deter- 

 mining from tlie nests and eggs to what bird they belong, in even a majority of cases, the 

 utmf)St care in authentication is indispensable. To be worth anything, not to be worse 

 than worthless in fact, an egg must be identified beyond ([uestion ; must be not only 

 unsuspected, but above suspicion. A shade of suspicion is often attached to dealers' eggs ; 

 not necessarily implying bad faith or even negligence on the dealers' i)art, but from the nature 

 of the case. It is often extremely difficult to make an unquestionable detcrnunation, as for 



