INTRODUCTION. 
§ A. Ornithology is the science of birds, and odlogy that 
of eggs, or, in a common but limited sense, that of birds’ 
eges. The two are intimately connected, and often form a 
joint study, one embracing the other. They are useful, 
because, when properly pursued, they cultivate observation 
and a love of nature, and necessitate healthful exercise. 
* Ornithology,” says an enthusiastic but anonymous writer, 
‘“‘has two departments, which are more or less incompatible, 
namely: Natural History, and Science, or the study of animate 
birds, and of those inanimate. The former, especially as 
opposed to an extreme of the latter, I recommend to all young 
students as the higher and better pursuit of the two. I fur- 
ther advise them, when not shooting at targets or legitimate 
game, never to fire a gun. My own experience has proved 
that, when science is so far advanced as at present, one can 
obtain an accurate knowledge of our birds, and a good collec- 
tion of their eggs, by following the above rule, and having 
proper books of reference, or a like resource, Egg-collecting 
can be conducted under humane principles. A parent-bird 
should never be shot, except in cases of extreme necessity, 
it being often preferable even then to snare the female by 
placing a slip-noose of horse-hair around the inner edge of her 
2 @) 
