Mar. 1891.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



39 



another set commences, is much to be depre- 

 cated; it does not sliow the number of eggs 

 in each set, and all the individuality of each 

 set is lost. Second, the strips of cotton stand 

 up .so high, and suriounding the eggs as they 

 do, they prevent one from seeing much of them 

 except the tops; and in the case of small eggs 

 they are almost hidden, as the strips project 

 somewhat over even the tops. 



C^apt. Bendire claims that he can put many 

 more eggs in one drawer in this manner than 

 if each set was arranged in a separate tray Ijy 

 itself, as is the custom in private collections. 

 This is undoubtedly true, but does he not sac- 

 rifice almost everything to economy of space ? 

 And in the ca.se of eggs, whicli take compara- 

 tively so little room even when differently 

 arranged, certainly enough sp.ace could Lie 

 found for a more effective anangemcnt; and 

 tlie National JIuseum should be able to provide 

 carefully-made drawers of seasoned lumber, 

 which would pull (uitand push in easily, with- 

 out jarring their contents. 



Tlie trays have attached to one side of them 

 a little pocket, in which small labels, contain- 

 ing a copy of the data of each sot, aie placed. 



Certain eggs of each species, selected by 

 Capt. liendire as typical ones, are surrounded 

 by pink cotton instead of white, as is the case 

 with the others. Tliese specimens ('opt. 

 Bendire proposes to figure in the plates of his 

 forthcoming work. 



Each egg is marked with iidc, with a certain 

 number (all the eggs of one set having the 

 same number), and all the particulars as to 

 name of species, name of collector, locality, 

 position and composition of nest, etc., are 

 recorded in large books. After the original 

 data has been copied into tliese books, and 

 also on the small labels to be put in the sm.all 

 pockets on the sides of the trays, they are put 

 away for safe keeping. 



This method of marking the eggs with ink 

 is much to be deplored. It is old-fashioned 

 and unnecessary. It spoils them, and has 

 been almost universally stopped by collectors. 

 Many years ago it was .as common to see an egg 

 marked with ink as to see it blown with two 

 holes, but with the advent of emiitying them 

 witli one hole came the improvement of a 

 small mark, made neatly vvith a pencil. 



Another matter which is unfortunate is that 

 the numbers now used at the Museum have 

 got very larj;e, embracing as they do many 

 figures, and these take up a great deal of room 

 on the small eggs. Then, too, the marking 

 with ink no doulifc often causes damage on 



small eggs, from the pen's shaip point, which 

 might be avoided by the use of a soft pencil. 



Each egg of a set is carefully measured, and 

 its size recorded in a large book, together with 

 its number, so that a complete record of the 

 sizes of all the eggs is kept. This is a most 

 admirable idea, but it involves an immense 

 amount of labor, and could only be done' in a 

 government institution where plenty of clerical 

 lab(n- is provided for. 



The collecti(ui is a very unequ.al one. It is 

 finest in the eggs of Water Birds, and certain 

 families. The Grebes {Poili<:ipid(e), the Loons 

 (Urinatorid(E), the Auks (Alcidoi), the Gulls, 

 Terns, etc. (LaridcB), the Cormorants (Phala- 

 crocoracidm), the Ducks, Geese, etc. {Anatida;), 

 the Herons (Ardeidw), the Rails, Gallinules 

 and Coots (lUillidxe), the Phalaropes (Phalaro- 

 po(lida'), the Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. (Scolopa- 

 ckUv), the Plovers {Cliaradriida'), the Grouse, 

 Partridges and Quails (Tetr(ionid(e), the 

 Pigeons, etc. {Columbida'), are all fine, some of 

 them magnificent; and many of these families 

 are represented by eggs of certaip species to 

 be found In no other collections. 



The Eaptores, however, are, on the whole, 

 disappointing for such a fine collection. The 

 series of American Vultures (Catliartida:), and 

 many of the Falcons, Hawks, etc. (Falconidw), 

 are not as complete as they should be. Indeed, 

 where eggs have been received from exploring 

 expeditions sent out by the government, and 

 from army officers, many very rare species are 

 represented by fine series; and this is also the 

 case with those birds of prey found in the 

 localities where Capt. Bendire collected. (It 

 will be remembered that he gave his superb 

 collection to the government, in the most gen- 

 erous manner.) But many eastern species, 

 comparatively common it is true, are repre- 

 sented only in the most indifferent manner. 

 The Owls are mostly inditt'erent. And the 

 same remark applies to many species of smaller 

 birds found breeding in the east. Their eggs 

 are only to be found in the collection in very- 

 limited numbers, and many of the series re- 

 quire to be extensively added to. That most 

 interesting family, the Warblers {Mniotiltidw), 

 has many of its species represented by series 

 which aie far surpassed by many jirivate col- 

 lections. Some of the rare ones are well rep- 

 resented, it is true, but as a whole this part of 

 the collection needs building up. 



The Finches, Sparrows, etc. (Frinr/illida'), on 

 the contrary are very fine, and the drawers 

 containing the Passerellas are a sight well 

 worth seeing. The Thrushes, etc. (Tvrdidce), 



