212 



THE OOLOGIST. 



dealers are usually made fruiu some 

 standard say, for example, that the 

 egg of the Robin is worth three cents 

 and the Bald Eagle $5.00, the prices 

 given other species are made accord- 

 • ing to their supply and demand when 

 compared with the two species last 

 mentioned. As a rule the prices given 

 in established dealers' lists 



are as near fair and ac- 



curate as can be made and as the mo- 

 tives which induce oologists to make 

 their collections are either for pleasure, 

 pasttime, or study, and not for gain 

 from a financial standpoint, it is safe 

 to say that all exchanges with brother 

 collectors, should be made at even 

 rates. Making exchanges \f ith dealers, 

 however, is different. The dealer 

 handles si>ecimens from a business 

 standpoint and with him it is first a 

 question of "bread and butter," and 

 the "pleasure " part must take second 

 place. As a rule dealers will take what 

 duplicates, if desirable, a collector may 

 liave and alloAv him one-half their 

 regular prices for them, paying the col- 

 lector in return with speciiuens at full 

 rates. At first thought, the collector 

 may think this is allowing the dealer a 

 good commission for making the ex- 

 change, but it is really all that the 

 dealer can afford t<» allov,^, except in 

 cases where he happens to be in need 

 of the species the collector offers, 

 and the collector wants, or is willing 

 to take species which the dealers has a 

 surp)lus. In this case it is an accom- 

 modation to the dealer, as well as col- 

 lector and he will often allow full, or 

 special rates. Many of our best col- 

 lectoi's consider it more profitable and 

 satisfactory to exchange with a relialile 

 dealer, than to make exchanges with a 

 ^.irge number of collectors. More es- 

 pecially is this, the case when the col- 

 lector has a large number of specimens 

 of a single species and it Avould be nec- 

 essary to make exchanges with a doz- 

 en or more collectors, in order to dis- 



pose of them, in cases like th s, tlie ad- 

 ditional expense, risk and tiaie, hardly 

 offsets the gain on rate. Both methods 

 of exchange has its advantages, and if 

 the writer had a lot of duplicates that 

 he desired to exchange for others, new 

 to his collection, he would make ex- 

 changes with both collector and dealer. 

 Lai'ge and valuable lots of fragile speci- 

 mens should always be sent by express, 

 as it is miich safer. Express packages 

 should always he sent prepaid. 



Never ship a lot of specimens to any- 

 one without first making a bargain 

 with them. We have doubtless had 

 more unpleasantness occur, over this 

 one failing on the part of our patrons, 

 than any other single thing. 



A dealer rarely wants a lot of common 

 eggs at any price. He cannot afford to 

 give large and low priced sea bird eggs in 

 excliange, unless the collector is will- 

 ing to pay the postage both waj^s. 

 Other than strictly first-class specimens 

 are rarely wanted at any price. Many 

 species that a dealer has in stock,he can- 

 not give in exchange, unless s^jecial ar- 

 rangements arc made to that effect: 



Parties desiring to make exchanges, 

 shoidd always oliscrve the following 

 hints, therel)y pre\'enting any possible 

 unpleasantness or delay: 



Write, stating plainly what yovi have 

 to offer, and what j-o;! desire in return, 

 should an exchange be arranged: — 



Pack carefully; remember you ship 

 your eggs at youi- risk. 



Mark your name and address on the 

 package; it is often impossible when 

 the collector or dealer to whom you 

 send has a large correspondence to tell 

 who it is from if you do not. 



Last, but not least: Send nothing 

 but strictly first-class specimens in ex- 

 change. SpeciuKms of any other quality 

 should be heavily discounted, orretiu-n- 

 ed at the sender's expense. 



Small excliacges amounting to Ic s 

 than .$1.00, arc rarely desired by a 

 dealer. 



