A NATURAL HISTORY 



OF THE 



Xcsls and Eggs of American lairds. 



BY ERNEST INGERSOLL, 



1)1 1 1 .-•. icncL- .\cHj. Laie Zoologist of llie United Staiss Geological Survey, Member of the l.osion society of 

 Na.iiral History, the Nuttall Ori.iihologicjl Ciub, the L),tvenport Academy of Sciences, etc , etc. 



ILLU.STRATED BY ELEGANTLY EXECUTED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES. 



\ 



Pekuai's no branch of zoology is more attractive than ornithology; and certainly no 

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

 ncstin-^ habits of the birds. It is a matter of no Ifttle difficulty, skill and expense, to secure a 

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

 loiintiy; 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 piivate collections of the nests 

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

 ■'Key" — exist for the purpose of properly 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 incidental!}-, and the 

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

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

 most persons. The mere bringing of these dispersed facts* togetheV, 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 a large amount of original and hitherto unpublished matter, aiming to make the work as 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 development of the subject at this date will adtnit* 



A chapteralso will be given to the formation-of Cabinets of Oology, containing directions 

 how. when and where, to find the nests of birds; suggestion:; as to the 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 whicli 

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



The work will be illustrated with 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 specimens in cabinets, r.otes from private journals, 

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

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

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

 cal Club a. "d other gentlemen very well known. 



The publisher wishes an active agent for this work in i-vcry place in the coutitrv. Full 

 particular.;, with circular, will be sent //cr. 



CONDITDNS OF PII5LKA TIJX. 



Tlic wsnlx will be i.'^^ued in lar'fe Svo rnontlily patt^. l:acli part will be jiriiUcci ()n \orv 

 liea\y supcr-ialondered paper, made expressly for this work ami will contain Iwf) magnili- 

 ccntchromo-lithographic plates. The price of l!i'.' work will- be fity cent-; per part. In no 

 case will Mibscriptions be taken for loss than the whole wf)rk. 



It is impf)ssible to f^tate the number of parts at this sta^c ' f tiie work, as new material is 

 co:i- t;uit!\ bein;;' brouglit to light. It is Ihou'^ht the work will make tiiree xolunu-s of twelve 

 prirt'- each; Subscriptions will be received at $,';.5o per y^'ar. 



1 ( r tlu' convenience of subsci'ibers who receive their parts by mail, wc shall sciul douhle 

 ni.mbcr- every two months, and remitlances can be sent upon receipt of the parts. 



.\nv ()!ic setuiing a club of four subscribers will receive a copy of the work free. Sam- 

 pics >\!iiili iMM'-r i^- icnirned 'wili be sent to tiiose who wisli to inspect liofore sniiscrihiir.; 



S. i;. C.ASSINO, 1\ lii.isiiFk. Salem. Mass. | Agents wanted.] 



