A NATURAL HISTORY 



OF THi: 



Nests and Eggs of American Birds. 



BY ERNEST INGERSOLL, 



Ziioloyisi of tlie Uiiiterf Stales Geo!oc;ical Survt-y, M 

 Nuttall Oiniiholoi-icai Ciub, the D.ivenport Academy 



III.USTRATED BY ELEGANTLY EXECUTED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES. 



-(leiice N'ewi. I, ate Znoloyisi of tlie Uiiiterf Stales Geolocrical Survt-y, Member of ihc Hosion Society of 

 Natur.«i History, the Nuttall Oiniiholoi-icai Ciub, the D.ivenport Academy ol bciciices, ttt , eic. 



Perhaps no branch of zoology is more attractive than ornithology; and certainly no 

 department of this branch exxites more interest, particularly" in the young student, than the 

 nesting habits of the birds. It is a matter of no little difficulty, skill and expense, to secure a 

 satisfactory collection of the skins of the birds of any one district, not to speak of the whole 

 country; but a cabinet of the nests and eggs of birds is far more easily obtained. It hap- 

 pens naturally, therefore, that there are a larger number of private collections of the nests 

 and 6ggs than of the skins of birds ; yet, while several works — for instance, Dr Coues's 

 •'Key" — exist for the purpose of properlv identifying the specimens in the latter.no book 

 has yet been printed in America by which birds' eggs may be identified. That such a book 

 is demanded is apparent to every one in communication with naturalists, professional and 

 amateur, throughout the country. 



The book herein proposed is intended to satisfy this want. Yet. as its title indicates, it 

 will be something more than a mere "egg-book." It will endeavor to bring into the promi- 

 nence they deserve those interesting phases of bird-life presented during the annual breed- 

 ing season. Upon this our books of ornithology have touched only incidentally, and the 

 information extant is scattered through a hundred publications, inany of which are obscure 

 pamphlets, the obscurer "proceedings" of scientific societies, or foreign books inaccessible to 

 most person^. The mere bringing of these dispersed facts together, into a connected narra- 

 tive of the nesting habits of each species, would be highly valuable; but the author will add 

 a large amount of original and hitherto unpublished matter, aiming to make the work as 

 exhaustive as the developinent of the subject at this date will admit. 



. . chapter also will be given to the formation of Cabinets of Oology, containing directions 

 how. when and where, to find the nests of birds; suggestions as tothe best modes of col- 

 lecting and transporting the eggs,, the preparation of specimens, arrangement of the col- 

 lection, disposal of duplicates, and the best method of keeping the records of the museum. 

 These suggestions, derived from the experience of the oldest American and European collect- 

 ors, will be of the most practical nature, furnishing precisely that information and help which 

 beginners need, and from the lack of which old collectors often suffer. 



'I he work will be illustrated w-ith colored plates, the finest ever printed of the eggs of 

 birds. 



The author has the hearty approval and assistance of the leaders of ornithology in this 

 country, in the way of access to unique specim'ens in cabinets, notes from private journals, 

 etc. .Among these may be mentioned : Dr. Elliott Coues, Naturalist of the United States Ge- 

 ological Survey ; Prof. J. A. Allen, of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, 

 Mass.; Captain Charles Bendire. U. S. A.; prominent members of the Nuttall Ornithologi- 

 cal Club and other gentlemen very well known. 



The publisher wishes an active agent for this work in every place in the countrv. Full 

 particulars, with circular, will be sent free. 



CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION. 



The work will be issued 'in large Svo monthly parts. Each part will be printed on very 

 heavy super-calendered paper, made expressly for this work, and will contain two magnifi- 

 cent chromo-lithographic plates. The price of the work will be fifty cents per part. In no 

 case will subscriptions be taken for less than the whole work. 



It is impossible to state the number of parts at this stage of the work, as new material is 

 constantly being brought to light. It is thought the work will make three volumes of twelve 

 parts each. Subscriptions will be- received at $5.50 per year. 



For the convenience of subscribers who receive their parts by mail, we shall send double 

 numbers &\<:^\y two months, and remittances can be sent upon receipt of the parts. 



Any one sending a club of four subscribers will receive a copy of the work free. Sam- 

 ples(which must be returned)will be sent to those who wish to inspect before subscribing. 



S. E. GASSING, Pup.LisiiER. Salem, Mass. [Agents wanted.] 



