Egg-Collecting and Its Object 
do not appear to be in any way different, the same bird selects 
bushes. Notes of this kind are of interest and should be worth 
the trouble of systematic investigation. 
Certain birds, such as the prairie horned lark, build several 
nests during the season, the first nest being constructed in a much 
more substantial manner than the second or third. This is prob- 
ably owing to the change in the weather conditions. Early in the 
season the ground is damp from the frequent rains, while later on 
the ground becomes dryer and there is more protection from the 
weeds and grasses which surround the nest. Such observations 
as these soon lead one to realise that much more interesting in- 
formation may be gathered by studying carefully, systematically, 
and intelligently the habits of the birds, together with the peculiari- 
ties of their nests and eggs, than by making: collections of the 
eggs themselves. 
In order to get a collection of eggs it is by no means always 
necessary to destroy the nest, or even to cause the birds to aban- 
don it ; that is, of course, unless you wish to have complete sets of 
eggs, and this may fairly be said seldom to be essential for the 
amateur or general student. 
If you are fortunate enough to find a nest before the eggs are 
laid, watch for the first one. This should not be touched, but the 
second may be taken and sometimes a third and fourth ; then 
leave the nest alone, and in most cases the bird will lay the com- 
plete complement. 
Care should be taken not to disturb the nest or frighten the 
birds. In this way I have seen as many as six eggs taken from a 
single nest, and four more were afterwards laid and hatched. 
Some birds are exceedingly shy and will desert their nests 
upon small provocation, especially if they are disturbed while 
building. Others, however, such as the golden-winged wood- 
pecker and crested flycatcher, are difficult to drive away. 
When eggs vary in size, shape, or colour, as those of most of 
the sparrows, the bobolink, and many others, it is an advantage 
to procure a fairly large number or series of sets, showing as 
many of the differences as possible ; this adds greatly to the interest 
of a collection, particularly when the difference correlates with 
locality and varied conditions. A well-arranged collection of bird’s 
nests, even without the eggs, is both picturesque and valuable. 
They should as far as possible be left as the bird had placed them ; 
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