16 



but also prevents their exact dimensions from being ascertained 

 accurately ; and if they are made at opposite sides, the extent of 

 the "show surface" is thereby lessened. Eggs should never be 

 written on until the shells are perfectly dry, or the ink will be 

 found to run, and the inscription will be rendered illegible. Eggs 

 with chalky shells, such as those of the anis {Crotophaga), gannets 

 and cormorants {Pelecanidce), and others, may be conveniently 

 marked by incising with a pin or the point of an egg-drill, so 

 also those of the ptarmigans {Lagopus), care being taken in this 

 case to select the dark-colored patches to write upon. The 

 inscriptions should always be placed on the same side as the hole 

 or holes, and confined within the smallest limits possible. For 

 drilling the hole or holes the side presenting the least character- 

 istic markings should be selected. 



CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 



The best allies of the collector are the residents in the country, 

 whether aboriginal or settlers, and with them he should always 

 endeavor to cultivate a close intimacy, which may be assisted by 

 the offer of small rewards for the discovery of nests or eggs. 

 ITe should, however, always insist upon any nests found being 

 shown to him in situ, and the gratuities paid should be propor- 

 tioned to his success in identifying the species to which they 

 belong. lie should steadily refuse any but the most trifling 

 remuneration for nests or eggs taken and brought to him. As 

 a rule, the eggs of the different species of plovers and sandpipers 

 {Gharadriadce and Scolopacidce) are those most wanted by oolo- 

 gists of all countries. These birds mostly breed in high northern 

 latitudes, but they often choose elevated spots for nesting in 

 more southern parallels. Their nests are nearly always difficult 

 to find, even when the birds are discovered. Their habit is, if 

 the ground be at all rough with herbage, to run off the nest for 

 some distance before taking wing, as the observer approaches; 

 if the ground be bare, they will try to escape observation by 

 squatting closely until they are almost trodden upon. The best 

 method of finding them, and indeed the nests of some other spe- 

 cies, is for the collector to conceal himself near the place where 

 be has reason to believe the eggs are, and to endeavor to watch 

 the bird as she returns to her nest — using a telescope, if neces- 



