Chapter III 



EGG-COLLECTING AND ITS OBJECT 



A COLLECTION of eggs, to be of any real value, must be formed 

 according to some prearranged method and for some definite pur- 

 posenot haphazard, with merely the idea of accumulating a great 

 quantity of eggs. The amateur collector is generally without any 

 notes, such as where found or the number in nest ; in fact, he is 

 apt to have nothing but somewhat uncertain names of eggs ob- 

 tained by exchange or purchased from some dealer secured in 

 any way so that the number be great. What, may I ask, has ever 

 been gained from such a collection ? And after the craze has 

 lasted a year or two, the whole thing is put aside and forgotten, 

 to be destroyed by neglect. 



The object of a collection is to show not only the individual 

 egg, but how conditions affect eggs of a given species in different 

 parts of the country. Thus it is of the utmost importance that it 

 should be known where the eggs were procured ; the date should 

 be given, so that it may be possible to find out whether in differ- 

 ent places the nesting season varies, and, if so, how great is the 

 variation. The catalogue should contain exact information on these 

 points, together with notes relating to the nest ; whether placed 

 on the ground, or in bushes or trees, etc. 



All notes should be made on the spot and not from memory. 

 A small pocketbook should be carried for that purpose, and these 

 notes ought finally to be arranged in a larger book, either in chrono- 

 logical order or under the name of each bird ; the latter is proba- 

 bly the better way as it is easier to refer to and needs no index. 

 Be careful that all information is accurate. Anything taken from 

 hearsay should be marked as such. In most cases it is better to 

 have nothing but notes made from personal observation. 



As I have said before, birds, though governed by certain rules, 

 do occasionally change or modify their habits ; so that notes on 



16 



