Bibliographical Notice. %tZ 



gestions of one thoroughly familiar with his subject. A manual of 

 this kind is likely to be especially serviceable to those who are in- 

 vestigating an unexplored country, and we are glad to find Mr. New- 

 ton's suggestions deservedly appreciated in America, where they 

 were first published. Oologists at home will find the English edition 

 very useful for transmitting to their friends abroad, or to those who 

 are collecting for them in foreign countries. 



If one feature strikes us above others in the writings of Mr. New- 

 ton, it is his scrupulous regard for strict accuracy. Everywhere he 

 insists upon the most ample proof; and truly there is no branch of 

 natural history where caution is more essential than in Oology. 



The greatest stress is laid upon Identification and Authentication. 

 "It is to be borne in mind that, to the oologist, specimens and 

 labels are of very slight value unless accompanied by a statement of 

 other circumstances which will carry conviction that the species has 

 been accurately identified, and the eggs subsequently carefully au- 

 thenticated." "The most satisfactory, and often the simplest way 

 of identifying the species to which the nest belongs is to obtain one 

 of the parents by shooting, snaring, or trapping ;" its skin, or at least 

 a characteristic part, is then to be carefully preserved and labelled, to 

 correspond with the inscription put on the egg^. (pp. 3 & 4.) 



We implore our readers not to attempt to carry out this practice 

 upon our British nesting birds. Many things are justifiable and 

 necessary in an unexplored country, and when the egg has not yet 

 been traced to its proper parent ; but eggs found in Great Britain 

 are mostly too well known to require such measures as this ; though 

 exception may very justly be made in the case of a bird not previ- 

 ously known to nest in Britain, if it cannot be identified by any 

 other means. Sad havoc has already been made among our scarcest 

 species by reckless egg-collectors. Let us hope that a better spirit 

 now prevails. A knowledge of the birds themselves, and of their 

 habits, is, surely, far preferable to a collection of their eggs ; and we 

 have noticed that those who are most zealous in furnishing their 

 egg-cabinet are not always the best field-ornithologists. Of course, 

 we do not blame those who collect eggs with a really scientific object. 



The best allies of the collector are the residents in the country, 

 whether aboriginal or settlers ; but the collector " should always 

 insist upon any nests being shown to him in situ, and the gratuities 

 paid should be proportioned to the success in identifying the species." 

 (p. 14.) 



"The most complete method of authenticating eggs is that of 

 writing in ink upon their shells the name of the species," together with 

 as many particulars as the space will admit of — the locality, date, 

 name of the collector, details of how far identified, &c. Tickets 

 attached with gum are too easily removable. 



All this is excellent advice ; and, besides, we are initiated into an 

 improved system of egg-blowing, — the implements required being 

 represented in several woodcuts. One perforation only should be 

 made in the egg, which is then easily emptied by suction through a 

 tube or blow-pipe. The difiicult operation of removing a fully de- 



