FIELD-WORK. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



A KNOWLEDGE of tlie breeding habits of birds 

 being an integral part of ornithology, representing 

 perhaps the most important phase of avian life, col- 

 lections of birds' nests and eggs are indispensable to 

 the thorough student ; and many persons find peculiar 

 pleasure in forming them. 



But the gathering of birds' eggs for scientific pur- 

 poses, — and I take it as granted that no lesser aim 

 would influence any one, — requires far more dis- 

 crimination than the collecting of specimens in almost 

 any other branch of natural history. It has been 

 remarked by Professor Newton, in his excellent 

 "Circular" published by the Smithsonian Institution, 

 tliat the botanist, so long as he gets his specimens 

 in good condition, is satisfied with labels attached 

 giving a few concise particulars of when and where 

 they were obtained ; but the oologist demands positive 



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