306 Methods of Labeling in Oblogical Collections. [ May, 
METHODS OF LABELING IN OOLOGICAL COLLEC- 
TIONS. 
BY W. H. BALLOU. 
È Sesh study of the eggs of birds, which has recently taken such 
impetus as to give it a recognized position in the science of 
ornithology, is at present in a condition deplorable indeed, from 
its broad deficiencies in the matter of labeling. Taking up an 
egg, in size no greater than a robin’s, we find plentifully scattered 
over its surface an advertisement large enough to adorn a news- 
paper column, spreading forth the fact apparently of great moment 
to the scientific world, that Mr. So-and-so was the fortunate col- 
lector of the egg, that it was collected on such and such a day, 
month and year, that it is a certain number in a standard cata- 
logue, and numbers so-and-so in So-and-so’s collection. Exam- 
ining European eggs in countries where the science was old when 
America was new, specimens are often found with a semicircular 
band’ of paper, or with a square label pasted on them with the 
scientific name written in ink or printed. Where the names are 
long, it is often a matter of speculation as to which occupies the 
greater space, the egg or the name. It is a shocking disgrace to 
European odlogy, equal in some respects to the eminently unsci- 
entific usages of our own odlogists. It is astonishing that during 
these centuries of existence that the science has attained so little 
eminence, and has remained so deficient in so small a matter as 
labeling, leaving out other points of greater and of less moment. It 
has heights and depths which it may attain to, and which 
will undoubtedly be arrived at- before many years. Its devotees, 
at present, seem to consist mainly of a class of persons whose 
only interest is concentrated in the knowledge of having a “ col- 
lection” of eggs and in discovering species yet unknown. 
The latter though of value to odlogy are used to build up omi- 
thology, and to that science is the credit of the discovery given. 
In consideration of some of the above facts it has been 4 
subject of much study on the part of myself and undoubtedly 
others as to what remedies may be successfully applied to 50 
great an evil as the present labeling system. The problem is not 
without its difficulties of solution. Many and varied were the 
experiments tried, which sometimes met with success in part, but 
on the whole are causes of grave errors. In each experiment 
some one was sure to so disarrange the eggs as to make it impos- 
‘sible to identify them. A leading difficulty was also found when — 
