1922.] Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 747 



liii<;erin<;- dejitli, as ocu'iii^ionally happens. Yet if, as 1 con- 

 sider justifiably, we allow sucii pursuits on the grounds of 

 sport, health, and exercise, why strive to deny to others, who 

 cannot afford such expensive forms of sport, the pleasure of 

 their hobby ? 



Many clutches of eggs I have collected bring back 

 memories of happy days l)y nioor^ wood, or stream, pitting 

 one's intelligence against that of the birds, and learning 

 much of interest from their habits. Such memories have 

 the same satisfaction as those of a good run ; of a fish 

 hooked and landed, of a toll rocketer neatly killed. 



I am oidy concerned in defending the rational egg- 

 collector, who only takes such clutches as he requires, and 

 often, at consideiable sacrifice, leaves others he covets, as 

 the taking of them might do harm. 



The time-worn lines of attack are that egg-collecting is 

 cruel, and deprives others of the delights of bird-life. I 

 trust I may be permitted to deal with these arguments as 

 briefly as possible. 



It is idle to say that birds like their eggs being talen. It 

 is, however, just as false to say their grief is inconsolable. 

 A little observation will show the comparatively small con- 

 cern birds have for their eggs compared to their young. 



Any ornithologist knows for what slight reasons many 

 birds will desert their eggs ; indeed, it sometimes seems for 

 no reason. Eggs are inanimate, and if the situation of the 

 nest is unsuitable, or appears dangerous, instinct apparently 

 teaches that it is better to dessert the eggs than risk peril to 

 the young. C()inj)are with this the behaviour oF birds when 

 they have young, and further jjroof of the degree of affection 

 felt for the two is unnecessary. Most birds will face very 

 little peril for their eggs, while they will readily risk grave 

 danger for their young. 



Birds will sing the day after the eggs have been taken, 

 and most species will again begin to nest in a few days. 



Similarly, the argument regarding the diminution of our 

 birds by egg-collecting is greatly overstated. 



Tlie large majoritj' of birds will, provided the complete 



