vi INTRODUCTION. 
of the present work. Knowing practically nothing about 
the nests which I came across, I took eggs from every 
nest that was in the least degree unfamiliar either in 
form or materials, as well as all varieties either of colour 
or shape, though deposited in nests apparently identical. 
The natural result was that, when I returned home, I 
possessed so many varieties which it was impossible to 
name from the figures given by Hewitson and others, 
that it became necessary to tax the good nature of several 
experienced oologists in order to determine them. As the 
result of several years’ collecting convinced me that no 
published work was at that time of much use in enabling 
the beginner to name his collection; as, moreover, I was 
now becoming familiarized with the nests and eggs of most 
of the commoner species, I asked the opinion of several of 
our leading ornithological writers as to the likelihood of an 
inexpensive work, with numerous illustrations of common 
varieties, being acceptable. These gentlemen not only 
gave me encouragement, but promised to assist me both 
with advice and the loan of specimens. Accordingly no 
sooner had the question of expense been met by my enter- 
prizing and most patient publisher Mr. Janson, than I 
began the preparation of the plates. 
To draw an egg correctly is no easy task, as I found 
to my cost. Not only must all the spots be drawn reversed 
aud in perspective, but (in order to give rotundity to the 
figure) the egg must be correctly shaded. After spoiling 
the appearance of my first six or seven plates by carefully 
indicating all the shadows visible upon them, and, instead 
of a rounded surface, producing a resemblance to a dish, a 
mushroom, or a plum, it became evident that most of these 
malformed appearances were the result of shadows cast 
upon the eggs by window-sashes, box-lids, and other objects 
which intercepted the light. It therefore became necessary 
