216 



TliK OOJ.OG.S'l' 



the Red-ej'ed, although not near so 

 finely moaulated and I'athei* shrill, it 

 resembles the words, weeeo, weeco-ee, 

 wee-ree, etc. 



This bird is easily distinguished from 

 the former species, by tho yellow on 

 the breast and also by being a shade 

 larger. 



It departs for the south by the mid- 

 dle of September. 



David L. Savage, 



Salem, la. 



A Little Advice. 



To those who are interested in Ool- 

 <og3' and are desirous of making a col- 

 lection of eggs may find the following 

 helpful to them. 



First, in making a collection of eggs 

 it is of the utmost importance that each 

 and every specimen should be fully 

 identified. The only sure way to do 

 this is to secure the old bird at the 

 same time, unless the collector is thor- 

 oughly familiar with the breeding hab- 

 its and eggs of the specimen in 

 question. As Capt. Bendire says: "A 

 small, thoroughly identified, well pre- 

 pai'ed and neatly cared for collection, 

 even if only a local one, is worth far 

 more scientifically and in every other 

 way than a more extensive one ob- 

 tained by exchange or purchase." 



The majoritj' of collectors have a 

 printed label data which they always 

 keep with the egg. All eggs should 

 have as much dirt removed from them 

 as possible before blowing as it is then 

 easier to get off. 



Eggs should be blown through one 

 small hole drilled in the side, forcing 

 the contents out by blowing into the 

 hole with a blowpipe. Do not hold the 

 egg too tightly between the fingers or as 

 Mr. Davie says, "you will learn that a 

 thing of beauty is not always a joy 

 forever." 



In blowing small eggs you will find 

 an egg holder handy. It is made by 



taking a piec-^ of wire about seven 

 inches long and bending both ends into 

 the shape of circular loops. Again 

 bend jour wii-e in the center so that 

 the loops face each other, and the hold- 

 er is finished. 



Do not try to blow eggs while in the 

 field if you can possibly help it, 

 as you do not have the facilities there 

 that vou do at home or in camp, and 

 then again you are apt to be in a hurry 

 and break your eggs; but pack them up 

 neatly in small boxes fitted with small 

 apartments, lined with cotton or moss. 



You should always have a notebook 

 with you in which j'ou should put down 

 everything of interest pertaining to the 

 eggs collected. 



Many valuable specimens are lost on 

 account of improper packing, when be- 

 ing sent by mail or express. Eggs 

 should never be sent in anything but 

 tin or wooden boxes which should be 

 lined with cotton. Then each egg 

 should be securely wrapped in cotton 

 and placed sn ugly in rows and layers 

 in the box. 



In marking eggs permanently it is 

 well to put the date, A. O. U. No. and 

 number of eggs in set, on the shel](near 

 the drill hole) with a soft lead penci 1. 



Egg collections are as a rule kept in 

 the drawers of a cabinet, which are 

 partitioned ofY into different compart- 

 ments partly filled with fine sawdust or 

 sheet cotton. It is well to scatter cam- 

 phor gum through the drawers as a 

 preventative of insects. 



The above is meant for the true lover 

 of nature and not for the ordinary so- 

 called collector, who delights in mass- 

 ing together large numbers of eggs and 

 the slaughtering of our beautiful song- 

 sters and "screening their fiendish acts 

 under the gauzy lace of Science.^'' 



Kellog Durland, 

 Dorchester, Mass. 



Mr. Francis Cope Jr., of German- 

 town, Pa., writes as follows: "The 

 back numbers of the Oologist, which I 

 ordered of you on the 13th inst., have 

 arrived safely and I am highly pleased 

 with same; in fact I consider them al- 

 most invahiable to the ornithologist and 

 oologist." 



