INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS. OV 
circumstances. Faithful description and accurate representation 
are clearly within our reach, and such description and representa- 
tion are sufficient in nineteen cases out of twenty for the purposes 
of identification in all instances of usual occurrence. 
The cases in which identification is difficult are of two or 
three kinds. Sometimes the difficulty arises from the near 
resemblance of the eggs laid by different allied species, sometimes 
from the wide discrepancies in the markings and especially in 
the shadings or tints of eggs laid by the same species ; but much 
more frequently from the doubtful eges being met with apart 
from the containing nests, or from want of proper or sufficiently 
accurate observation of the nests at the moment of discovery. 
The young egg-fancier should always recollect that the fashion 
and materials and site of the nest taken in connection with the 
eggs will almost always, with the aid of a tolerably accurate 
and well illtstrated Book of Eggs, enable him to decide without 
hesitation as to the real owner of the nests and eggs in question; 
while there are very many eggs, such as the Common Wren’s, 
those of one or more of the Tom-tits, the Lesser Willow-Wren 
&c., of which specimens may be found so nearly resembling one 
another in shade and size and spots, that it requires a very nice 
and experienced eye to allot the several eggs to their certain 
origin. In such a case as this, recourse must be had to some 
kind and experienced Oologist. 
A few words on another subject. The author has been gravely 
taken to task by some of his conscientious friends, for delineat- 
ing in one or two of his former books the pleasures and excite- 
ments of egg-hunting, or the satisfaction of trying to form a 
methodical collection. He has been more than once asked—Do 
you really mean to encourage boys in robbing birds’ nests? Can 
you defend such a practice from the charge of cruelty ? 
B 2 
