COLLECTION OF BIRDS AND EGGS. 77 



Yet great harm is done by an indiscriminate robbery of 

 eggs; and while oology, if scientifically pursued, is an en- 

 tirely commendable and valuable study, yet we have felt 

 obliged to impose certain not severe restrictions upon its 

 pursuit in connection with our Association. Our attitude 

 is sufficiently defined by the following extract from an 

 editorial note in our official organ. 



There is no conflict between scientific study and a gentle 

 spirit of mercy. There are, indeed, times when the interests 

 of science require the suffering, and even the death, of insect, 

 bird, and beast; but every true scientist shrinks from these 

 necessary occasions, and makes them as few as possible. 

 There is no room for cruelty in any. laboratory. Whenever 

 pain must be caused it must be made as slight and as short as 

 it can be made. Whenever life must be taken, it must be 

 taken reverently, as a costly sacrifice, and in the speediest and 

 most merciful manner. The responsibility of drawing the 

 delicate line which is to divide between the cursed ground of 

 cruelty and that honorable but sorrowful region in which the 

 claims of science may properly assume supremacy at the cost 

 of pain, has been forced upon us by the requests of many 

 persons to publish notices of the desired exchange of bird- 

 skins for bird-skins, and of eggs for eggs; and, on the other 

 hand, by the simultaneous and equally strenuous prayers of 

 well-meaning philozoists, that we would strictly refuse to 

 countenance at all either the killing of birds or the taking of 

 eggs. The solution of the question, which we have reached 

 after long consideration, is included in the following rule, 

 which we shall henceforth adopt, with reference to the publi- 

 cation of such exchange notices: 



Notices of the exchange of birds' eggs or bird-skins will 

 be printed, provided, the person shall be a member in good 

 standing of the Agassiz Association, that his collections shall 

 have been made in conformity to the laws of the State in 

 which he may reside, and that the description of his material 

 for exchange shall be in terms sufficiently accurate to indicate 

 that he is doing scientific work. 



The egg-collector's outfit consists of a pair of climb- 

 ers, a suit of stout clothing (buttons riveted if possible!), 



