ENCOURAGEMENT AND COUNSEL. 

 From Our Correspondents and Reviewers. 



"There has recently been formed at Santa Barbara, California, the 'Museum of 

 Comparative Oology,' an institution dedicated solely to the preservation and study 

 of birds' eggs and nests. This seems an eminently proper step. Freed from the 

 rivalry of other branches of oology, the officers of such a museum may hope eventually 

 to accumulate the first truly representative collection of eggs from all parts of the 

 world. I should like to see the major part of all really valuable egg material in the 

 country go to such a centralized, special museum, instead of being scattered as it is 

 now. The museum might then become a clearing house of whatever scientific information 

 may be derived from the study of eggs and nests, and a laboratory where students of 

 oology might engage in serious research. Tt would do much toward discouraging 

 general and haphazard collecting, and would educate naturalists to see the greater 

 desirability of collecting toward the perfection of this special museum." 



— Robert Cushman Murphy, in "Forest and Stream," June. 1919. 



"I will try and send along a further consignment of eggs at an early date. It will 

 not be my fault if the M. C. O. has not the best collection of Australian eggs in 

 America before long." — Rowland H. Archer, Lyndhurst, Victoria, Australia. 



"Have just finished reading the 'Journal' from cover to cover. It looks as 

 though vou are building a wonderful institution in the Museum of Comparative 

 Oology."— Dr. Blenn R. Bales, Circleville, Ohio. (Letter, April 8, 1919.) 



"I have read with great interest Nos. 1 and 2 of your Journal. I hope anatomy and 

 the biology of the egsr, its structure, pigmentation de novo ab ovo, will be taken 

 up by your society."— E. C. Stuart Baker, F. Z. S.,Hon. Sec. B. O. U., C. F. A. O. U. 



(Letter May 5, 1919.) 



"Many thanks for the copv of your 'Journal of the Museum of Comparative 

 Oology.' which I have just finished reading. I found it very interesting, and can 

 testify from eyesight that you have very much more than made a good beginning with 

 your work." — Dr. Louis B. Bishop. (Letter, May 18, 1919.) 



Dr. Bishop visited the Museum several times in the fall of 1918. 



"I have just received and read with great interest, from cover to cover, the 

 'Journal of the M. C. O.' and and T beg to offer vou my sincere congratulations. I 

 am delighted to see that the phylogenett'c and biological asnect of oology are at 

 last to receive adeouate treatment. I believe with you that it is a very promising 

 field for research and I congratulate you heartilv on the opportunity that lies before 

 you." — Dr. Hubert Lyman Clark, Museum of Comparative Zoolosw, Cambridge. 



(Letter, April 9, 1919.) 



"You and your fellow workers are to be heartily congratulated on the great be- 

 ginning already made; and the time is not so far distant when the stupendous work of 

 comparison, the main object of the museum, can be commenced." 



—Philip C. Dutton, Esq., Stone, Staffs, England. (Letter, April 21, 1919.) 



"In future issues of this Journal we hone to see valuable contributions to out- 

 knowledge of those interesting phases of bird-life which surround the tgs:: all 

 the interesting instincts and habits of nest-bui! diner and nidification, on the one hand, 

 development and care of the young on the other." 



— John Treadwell Nichols in "Bird-Lore," July-August, 191 9. 



"I am extremely obliged to you for the copy of your 'Journal' received recently, 

 and I beg to offer you my congratulations upon its very interesting matter. T hope 

 in the course of next spring to be able to send vou some specimens for your collection." 

 — Norman Gilroy, Esq., of London. (Letter, Aug. 29, 1919.) 

 "I think the idea is great and I wish you every success in your undertaking. T 

 will be very glad to help you as much as I can with British and other eggs, in 

 series where possible." 



—J. G. Gordon, Esq., Scotland. (Letters of Aug. 27. and Oct. 19, 1919.) 



"It is immensely interesting. I am especially glad to see you urge the collecting 

 of nests and point out the. wav to oroperlv take and preserve same." 



_A. M. Tngersoll, San Diego. (Letter, April 22, 1919.) 

 "Every page was read and reread with much pleasure." 



—Ralph W. Jackson, Cambridge, Md. (Letter, Nov. 13, 1919.) 



"I will be pleased to assist you in the furtherance of your enterprise." 



— Wm. Mark Pybus, Esq.. Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. (Letter. Sept. 8, 1919.). 



Page six 



