154 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In this catalogue about 720 species are enumerated as now known, 

 while of these the eggs of more than five hundred are marked as 

 desiderata, more than three hundred, or nearly one-half, being 

 unknown in American collections. Among easily identified species 

 most wanted are the California vulture (Cathartes californianus ;) 

 the swallow-tailed hawk, {Nauclerus furcatus,) and the black-should- 

 ered hawk, (Elanus Uucurus) of the south ; the burrowing owl of the 

 plains, {Athene hypicgaea,) the ivory-billed woodpecker, (Picus princi- 

 jyalis,) the western hairy woodpecker, {Picus harrisii,) the red cock- 

 aded woodpecker of the south, {Picus horealis,) the red-bellied 

 woodpecker, {Genturus carolinus,) the red-shafted woodpecker or 

 flicker of the west, {Colaptes mcxicamts,) the Oregon robin or varied 

 thrush, {Turdus naevius,) the California blue bird, {Sialia 7nexicana,) 

 the Kocky mountain blue bird, {S. arctica,) the western nuthatch, 

 {Sitta,) the fish-crow of Puget Sound_, {Corvus caurinus,) all the jays 

 of the Kocky mountain region ; the Canada jay, {Perisoreus cana- 

 densis,) the band-tailed pigeon, {Golumha fasciata,) the wild turkey 

 of New Mexico, [Meleagris mexicana,) all the quails or partridges of 

 western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona ; the whooping or white 

 prairie crane, {Grus americana,) the glossy ibis, {Ibis ordii ;) most of 

 the snipes, sandpipers, curlews^ and other small waders ; the two 

 species of swans, {Gygnus,) most of the geese and ducks ; the booby 

 gannet of Florida, {Sula fiber,) the wild pigeon, and many other 

 species. 



The following details will be found to contain all the instructions 

 necessary to the preparation and preservation of oological collections : 



INSTRUCTIONS FOK COLLECTING AND PRESERVING. 



The nests of birds are to be sought for in all localities and in diflfjprent 

 months of the year, according to the latitude. May and June being 

 generally the most productive. Many of the rapacious birds, how- 

 ever, begin to lay much earlier in the middle States, even in February 

 and March. 



When a nest containing eggs, or one newly constructed, is dis- 

 covered, it should not be disturbed, if possible, before the parents have 

 been observed hovering around or near, and thus identified. If the 

 species cannot be otherwise positively determined, a parent bird should 

 be secured, and either the whole skin be prepared, or a portion — as 

 the head or wing, and preserved for identification. The whole bird 

 may be thrown into alcohol, and thus easily kept. 



The services of boys and other persons on farms, plantations, &c., 

 may be called to great advantage into requisition in collecting eggs. 

 Whenever they have found a nest, however, it should not be disturbed 

 before information is communicated to and the spot visited by some 

 one competent to determine the species, unless the parents can be taken 

 with the nest. No pains should be considered too great to secure the 

 certain identification of each set of eggs. If, however, this identifi- 

 cation should be impossible, the eggs should still be preserved, as the 

 species can usually be approximated to, if not absolutely determined, 

 by an expert oologist. 



