PREFACE. 



the desire to collect something is paramount ; it has very frequently 

 culminated in the indiscriminate collecting of birds' eggs, merely to 

 gratify a passing whim or to see how large a number could be gotten 

 together, without regard to classification. It is this in conjunction with 

 the many natural enemies that birds have had to contend with, that has 

 caused the great decrease in numbers of certain birds. It is neither the 

 author's wish nor intention that this volume shall tend in the least to 

 stimulate this desire in our youths. Knowledge does not imply pos- 

 session and it is far more enjoyable to intimately know the birds in life 

 than to possess empty eggshells or stuffeds kins. With the exception of 

 a very few species, we now have all the information that can be derived 

 from specimens of either eggs or birds, and it is especially desirable 

 to study their habits and peculiarities in life, as this has been sadly neg- 

 lected in the desire to possess. In regard to the few rare birds whose 

 breeding habits are practically unknown, it will probably be for the best 

 if we remain in ignorance. While the discovery of nests of Kirtland 

 Warbler establishes the breeding range of that bird and the probable 

 route of migration, I fear that it will swiftly lead to the total extermi- 

 nation of that very rare species. Those who are the possessors of 

 cameras can get a great deal of pleasure by photographing nests with 

 eggs or young birds in natural situations, just as they were found. 

 The examples of this class of work found on the following pages are 

 the best efforts of some of the leading workers in this field. 



In the preparation of this volume, the author has had the coopera- 

 tion of many active field oologists and his thanks are especially due 

 Col. John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass., Mr. Chauncey W. Crandall, 

 Woodside, N. Y., and Mr. John Lewis Childs of Floral Park, N. V., 

 each of whom kindly placed their very extensive collections at his dis- 

 posal for study and photographing, and to the Academy of Sciences, 

 Philadelphia, for permission to photograph the egg of the Great Auk in 

 their collection, their specimen being the best of the only two in this 

 country, both of which were formerly in this institution. 



CHESTER A. REED. 



Worcester, Massachusetts, 1904. 



