7200 Birds. 



of small rewards for the discovery of nests or eggs. He should, how- 

 ever, always insist upon any nests found being shown to him in situ, 

 and the gratuities paid should be proportioned to his success in iden- 

 tifying the species to which they belong. He should steadily refuse 

 any but the most trifling remuneration for nests or eggs taken and 

 brought to him. As a rule the eggs of the different species of plovers 

 and sandpipers {CharadriadcB and Scolopacidce) are those most wanted 

 by oologists of all countries. These birds mostly breed in high 

 northern latitudes, but they often choose elevated spots for nesting in 

 more southern parallels. Their nests are nearly always difficult to 

 find, even when the birds are discovered. Their habit is, if the ground 

 be at all rough with herbage, to run oflf the nest for some distance 

 before taking wing as the observer approaches ; if the ground be bare 

 they will try to escape observation by squatting closely until they 

 are almost trodden upon. The best method of finding them, and 

 indeed the nests of some other species, is for the collector to conceal 

 himself near the place where he has reason to believe the eggs are, 

 and to endeavour to watch the bird as she returns to her nest — using 

 a telescope if necessary ; but should this fail, after giving her time to 

 settle herself upon it, to fire off a gun suddenly, or spring up and shout, 

 when the bird, in her surprise, will often at once take wing from the 

 nest, or at least without running many yards. To reach the nests of 

 rock-building birds a man or boy can be lowered by a rope from the 

 top, when it is accessible. The rope should always be tied under the 

 arms of the person lowered, as substances, detached from above by the 

 friction of the rope, may, by falling on him, stun him for a moment, 

 and cause him to lose his hold. But in all places and at all times an 

 egg-collector should recollect that identification and authentication 

 are his main objects, to attain which no trouble is too laborious, no 

 care too great. 



It does not come within the scope of this paper to offer any remarks 

 on the arrangement or method of exhibiting eggs in cabinets. What 

 has been attempted is simply a series of suggestions for collectors in 

 the field. They are especially urged to aid the study of Oology by 

 exercising greater zeal than many have hitherto been wont to do in 

 seeking and recording precise information relative to the specimens 

 they procure, and that at the very time and place when only it may be 

 sought and recorded. It follows of necessity that such information 

 should not be neglected by oologists at home, but carefully entered 

 and preserved in the catalogues of their collections, which all oologists 

 ought to keep. In many cases they may prefer forming these cata- 



