BIRDS' NESTS. 23 



names of eggs in cases where the finder of the 

 nest has had no opportunity of observing the 

 parent birds. To watch a bird in its nest, to 

 ascertain what it is, and then to examine the 

 nest and its contents, is of course the most 

 satisfactory method of verifying the eggs, and 

 should never be neglected when feasible. 

 Little reference to books is then necessary, 

 except for the purpose of seeing how far the 

 descriptions of others agree with, or vary from, 

 your own observations ; for it should be always 

 borne in mind, that in Natural History, one 

 well-ascertained fact, properly authenticated, 

 is worth a whole host of opinions. 



If, however, as will very frequently happen, 

 you have no opportunity of determining the 

 species of the old birds, you must confine 

 your attention to the nest and eggs, observing 

 first where the former is built, ancj of what 

 materials, noticing also its shape, and any 

 peculiarity that may strike you. In the next 

 place, notice the number of the eggs, their 



