26 



OKOTTHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 13-I^o. 2 



by us during the last three years, no less than 

 one hunilred and twelve diffeient styles were 

 found. These varied in size from 5-8 x 1 3-4 

 inehes to o 5-8 x 7 inches ; some w ere nearly 

 sijuare, others long and narrow, perforated and 

 gunnned like postage stamps. These various 

 sizes cause considerable annoyance when the 

 data are placed with each set in the cabinet, as 

 is customary with many collectors; if kept 

 loosely in a box it is difficult to find the small 

 ones which are liable to be lost. 



'J'he paper used in the one hundred and 

 twelve samples before us, range from fine linen 

 (the l)est, on account of its lightness for mail- 

 ing), to tliiii bristol board. 



Memoranda have been received on the back of 

 bill heads and upon irregular shaped scraps of 

 paper, written with pencil, colored ink (which 

 has since faded), and with a type-writer. 



Some may argue that these all accomplish 

 the same end, true, but they are so troublesome 

 to till and difficult to find the desired item upon, 

 that they are mentioned with the hope that their 

 use w ill be discontinued. 



Another point upon w hich harniouy is desir- 

 able is the order of recording the data. For in- 

 stauce, the '^ Set Mdrk" has been found in 

 every conceivable place upon the blank, 

 when it should follow close to " .Vo." and 

 " Species." 



Let any one take his package of notes, and 

 going rapidly over the different ones see how 

 long it takes to And even this one item. 



The data blank is undoubtedly the best and 

 most accurate method of recording oiilogical 

 notes, and the use of those arranged in book 

 form with stub attachment are highly recom- 

 mended. Upon the stub may be entered, at 

 the time of exchange, the main items of the 

 data, which, in case of loss, can be duplicated, 

 a very important consideration. 



After a careful study of the difterent styles 

 of blanks which are now in use, and from con- 

 versation and correspondence with n)an)' oiil- 

 ogists, a convenient data blank and stub, with 

 neat and not too conspicuous type, medium 

 size, which makes it suitable for mailing, light 

 lines and convenient arrangement of essential 

 items, has been designed by us and received 

 the approval of oologists. 



It seems to recjnire no explanation, being in 

 part similar to some of those in use. The word 

 " W<?«/((.v " has been omitted, as it is regard- 

 ed as superfluous. When no confidence is had 

 in the collector, the mere additions of such 

 words as are couunonly used in filling this 

 space, viz., Correct, Certain, Sure, Positive, 



Good, Perfect, Known, O. K., A. /., Bird heard. 

 Bird seen. Bird flushed. Bird shot. Bird on nest, 

 aud Bi/ comparison, do not enhance the value of 

 the specimens. We have yet to receive a mem- 

 oranda where the identification is given as 

 Poor, None, etc. .Such information as Male bird 

 sitting, Bird tal'en (esi)ecially if it is preserved 

 and numbered), is of Interest, and may be in- 

 eluded under Remarks. 



Various terms have been used to describe the 

 stages of incubation, among which we notice. 

 Well alonij. Sat upon. Feathers on emhrijo, etc., 

 terms that are very vague in their signification. 

 The following, with their abbreviations, we 

 have used, and in nearly every case they have 

 been found to answer all purposes, viz., Fresh, 

 Commenced (Com.). Small emhnjos {Sm.enihs.), 

 Large embryos (Lg. embs.) 



It has been customary in making exchanges 

 to indicate the number of sets ottered by the 

 numerator of a fraction .and the number of eggs 

 in the set by the denominator, as 1-5, signifying 

 one set of five eggs; 4-5, meaning four sets of 

 five. A single set of five with nest would be 

 expressed in n-5; four sets of five with nests 

 would be written n 4-5. 



In filling out the blank opposite " No. of 

 Eggs," a single number is sufficient when a 

 complete set is recorded, but it sometimes hap- 

 pens that one or more eggs has been broken, 

 then a fractiiui should be used, the numerator 

 always showing the number of eggs remaining, 

 and the denominator the number in original set. 

 For example, we were sent a set of five Says' 

 Phcebe, one of which was broken, the entry in 

 this ease would be 4-5, that iS;/our-li/ths of a set. 

 The full set, if perfect, would have been en- 

 tered as 5-5 (or 5). 



It must be apparent that if but two fresh 

 eggs are found and t.aken from the nest of a 

 species whose complement is known or reason- 

 ably supposed to be larger, that the set is in- 

 complete, and as the exact number which would 

 have constituted the set is unknown, they 

 would be expressed thus : 2. 



Of course, these fractions used on data blanks 

 do not conflict with the fractions used in oflers 

 of exchange, as it is generally understood that 

 no one will ofter incomplete sets without 

 special mention. 



The word Remarks has been substituted for 

 Xest, for the reason that sets are often received 

 without any accompanying descrii)tiou of the 

 nest or its site, and that other items can more 

 properly be here enumerated. 



We may add that it is best to use a separate 

 blank for each set, aud to make the entries with 



