CHAPTER I. 



OOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



An egg collected without being authentically identified is -worth absolutely 

 nothing. My younger readers should pay particular attention to this remark. When 

 a nest containing eggs which are unknown is discovered, the bird should be shot, 

 skinned and preserved. Its identification should be determined by a competent 

 judge. I shall treat of the skinning and preparation of skins in the following chapter. 

 The novice, of course, will destroy more animal life than the experienced. He will 

 probably kill a Song Sparrow for a Swamp Sparrow — a Crow for a Raven, eta 

 Therefore I shall not urge the new beginner to kill a bird of which he is ignorant in 

 order to identify the oological specimens belonging to its nest. The old student 

 Will take as few lives as possible, for he is better acquainted ornithologically with 

 the avifauna which he is studying.. In order to study oology we must take care of 

 these objects existing around us, and if the naturalist does not call a halt on their 

 extermination, who will? Animal life must be protected by the naturalist for, if it 

 Is exterminated, where has his delightful study gone? Experienced taxidermists, 

 ornithologists and oologists will make better game wardens than politicians! Why? 

 Because we cannot afford to kill the goose which lays the golden egg! She may lay 

 another. 



Who on earth could be more desirous of preserving animal life than we? No- 

 body, not a single person. These side remarks are intended for no other purpose 

 than to show who are the best able and capable to take care of those things which 

 they love the most. 



These directions for coUecting and preserving birds, nests and eggs, and the 

 whole contents of this work are intended to assist the true naturalist in the delight- 

 ful subject herein treated. For those who idly roam the woodlands and pebbly 

 shores, collecting everything in reach with aimless intent, this book was never cal- 

 culated. 



To every person who loves to study in the great field of Nature ; to those espe- 

 cially who are deeply interested in the habits of the feathered tribe, the protection 

 of bird life is of the utmost importance. 



Surely none of the readers of the foregoing pages are engaged in the wholesale 

 collecting of eggs for purely mercenary purposes, sacrificing and depopulating our 

 birds, and screening their fiendish acts under the gauzy lace of science! 



Empty the contents of an egg through one smoothly drilled hole in the side, and 

 drill it as small as can be got along with. Force the contents out by blowing into the 

 hole with a blow-pipe. Do not make holes at the ends of an egg for the purpose of 

 blowing the contents out. If the embryo is partially developed, the hole must neces- 

 sarily be made larger, and the embryo should be extracted a little at a time with 

 an embryo hook or forceps, and cut in pieces with a fine, narrow-bladed scissors. 

 By soaking, the egg in water over night the embryo will often become very tender 

 and can be taken out with ease. 



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