24 BIRDS' NESTS. 



size, colour, and markings. On referring to 

 plates and written descriptions, you will, per- 

 haps, be able to ascertain without doubt to 

 what bird the nest belongs ; but as this will 

 not always be the case, visit it again and 

 again, and it is most probable that something 

 will occur to help you through your difficulty. 

 But if you remain uncertain to the last, lay 

 your specimen aside, properly marked, until 

 you can obtain the opinion of some more 

 practised collector than yourself. But by all 

 means avoid adding any eggs definitely to 

 your collection with names attached to them, 

 until there is no reasonable doubt as to their 

 identity. It is an understood principle among 

 naturalists, that any departure from this rule 

 is a violation of honesty. Want of skill on 

 your part they will overlook, and gladly set 

 you right, but dishonesty will not only take 

 away from the value of your collection, but 

 damage your own character. 



No attempt to classify eggs has, as far as I 



