great sport, this doing things together, and sound sense too. The joy of common effort 

 and the pride of common possession exceed the joys and the prides of private owner- 

 ship and isolated grandeur as much as a football game exceeds solitaire. It's team 

 work that counts these days. Won't you join our team? Remember, it will soon be 

 the biggest team in the United States, and perhaps — well, you get the idea. 



This may look at first like an attempt to discourage the private collector. Not a 

 bit of it. We need him and Science needs him. Just as a national gallery of art depends 

 upon the patient unremitting efforts of a thousand artists, each working out his own 

 genius; so a central repository of birds' eggs depends upon the activities of a thousand 

 collectors, each intent upon his own problem and zealous of distinction in his own field, 

 yet each recognizing the value and intended honor of a place in the national gallery. 

 The Museum of Comparative Oology, moreover, has this advantage, that it can ultilize 

 within reason almost any degree of cooperation on the part of its affiliated members, 

 whereas any academy of art can house but a tithe of a single artist's production. 



Again, we can honestly reciprocate. If you are with us, boosting and scouting and 

 contributing, you may be very sure that scores of other collectors are doing the same 

 thing. You will find yourself a member of a big self-selected fellowship of qualified 

 collectors, all as zealous for 3^our welfare as for their own. Tell us what you need to 

 enable you to work out your problem, or to comolete the series of eggs in your special 

 department, and we'll find it for you. We'll put you in touch with it, and help you get 

 it, if need be. We are here to serve you. 



Remember, too, that we are not "out after the cash." Oh, of course we could use 

 ten times as much as we have. Who couldn't? And, of course, we won't refuse gifts 

 of cash. Who would? But the Museum of Comparative Oology is being worthily sup- 

 ported by Santa Barbara friends, as their contribution to Science. We will house suit- 

 ably and permanently all that you send us, and it will be kept (subject always to the 

 requirement of the most perfect representation of each species) for your inspection 

 and use. 



Here, then, is how we propose to serve, and how we ask, in turn, to be served. We 

 will count it a privilege to receive from you some definite expression of interest, some 

 pledge of affiliation, or some representative consignment of museum material, whether 

 local or foreign. Note carefully who our friends are (see names of Board of Visitors, 

 published elsewhere in this number), and let us know whether you care to be counted 

 in this unique and promising cooperative effort. 



WE PROPOSE TO COOPERATE: 



(1). By the maintenance of a clearing house of information about collectors and 

 collections. To this end you are respectfully requested to place on file with us a state- 

 ment of the size and condition, housing, etc., of your collection. Give number of species, 

 sets, and eggs. Mention special lines of interest, rarities, desiderata, etc. If possible, 

 furnish us with a complete checked list of your collection, so that we may see at a 

 glance what you lack — all to the end of mutual helpfulness. Eventually, we shall ask 

 for biographical sketches and portraits of all collectors of recognized standing, and we 

 shall maintain both for our own use and that of our affiliated membership (under ju- 

 dicious safeguards) careful records of the scientific standing of all who aspire to collect. 



(2). By the establishment of exchange relations with all reputable collectors. We 

 are, of course, anxious to build up our collections to the point of highest usefulness, 

 and we aspire to a complete representation of all the world's nests and eggs. We 

 realize that the achievement of this very desirable end must rest upon the activity and 

 loyalty and enthusiasm of private collectors — men who follow the game for their own 

 gratification, and men whom we must help. 



(3). By inviting contributions of material of every sort, but especially of those 

 things which have a definite research value, not rarities alone, although these are very 

 welcome, but carefully selected series of common species, eggs which illustrate indi- 

 vidual sequence or high variation, abnormality, or striking uniformity even (as in the 

 remarkable case of the eggs of the Santa Cruz Island Jay). In working out our drawers 

 illustrative of familiar and ordinal relationships, we can use an abundance of normal 

 types, "singles," and "short sets" as well, provided they are absolutely authenticated. 



(4). By seeking affiliation with all reputable collectors. We are establishing 

 many ranks of affiliation and are recognizing every degree of cooperation from Field 

 Collectors and- Sustaining Members up to Fellows (three men have already qualified 



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