Vol. X. 

 1910 



1 A Defence of Oology. ^C 



classification of birds is considered the more scientific ; in fact a 

 division has been made, terming this ' scientific ornithology ' 

 and relegating the study of eggs, young, nests and all else to 

 another division termed ' popular ornithology.' It would seem 

 to me that inasmuch as the eggs are produced by the bird's 

 anatomy and hold new life, they are in a sense a part of the 

 bird's anatomy, and that, if any such separate classification is to 

 be made that birds and eggs should come together rather than 

 eggs and nests. As further proof, I feel quite sure if some 

 bird, a Thrush for instance, of one section produced invariably 

 plain bluish-white eggs and that of another section produced in- 

 variably entirely different eggs, say green heavily blotched with 

 brown, I doubt not that the two birds would soon be separated 

 even if no apparent difference could be found in the birds them- 

 selves. However, it is not my opinion that any such separation 

 of the study of eggs, birds, or nests is necessary, as the gathering 

 of all facts in the study of them, in my idea, is scientific and is 

 ornithology. Nature has drawn no clear cut lines that I can see, 

 and I consider it as important to note that the Cliff Swallow 

 constructs its nest of mud as that a hundred specimens of the 

 bird show some slight variation in wing measurement. 



" A prominent ornithologist some time ago informed me that 

 he did not consider the geographical variation of species as 

 important as most have deemed it, and that all Song Sparrows 

 in his collection were simply labelled such, accompanied with 

 the usual data. Personally I do not endorse this method, 

 believing all differences discernible should be recognized. I also 

 believe variation in eggs, or any other scientific fact concerning 

 them, important as well, for to me all appear to be but links in 

 a great chain. It seems to be the desire of some, however, to 

 disconnect these ' links,' claiming that the so-called scientific 

 ornithology is the more important, as it is a component part of 

 the science of life. To me it would seem that equally as much 

 of the science of life can be learned by a close study of the birds' 

 habits, their eggs and nests, as by the study of their structure and 

 their classification. 



" The second point is : Have eggs been scientifically studied or 

 described ? 



" I maintain that truly scientific descriptions of eggs, treating 

 of their texture, size, shape, and colouration is a part of 

 ornithology that has been neglected and offers material for a 

 monumental work. Take the eggs of the Brewer Blackbird 

 {EnpJiagus cyanocephalus) for instance. I wish to ask any 

 collector familiar with a series, if there are not many specimens 

 that one unfamiliar with the species would have difficulty in 

 identifying if he depended solely on the written descriptions of 

 a writer like Davie for instance, who states that the eggs are 

 marked ' with dark brown .... and some with a lighter 



