'■ Rector Fined. — At Lerwick on Saturday the Rev. 

 A. E. Sorby, of Darfield Rectory, wa? fined £3, or a 

 month's imprisonment, for having contravened the 

 Wild Bird's Protection order, by taking two eggs of 

 the Great Skua and one of a Sea Eagle from places in 

 Shetland. The eggs were forfeited." 



DON'T BE TOO SURE. 



In scientific research, and this is particularly true 

 of Oology, to become dogmatic in assertions is fatal. 

 In the coloration or other characteristics of eggs the 

 Oologist is often confronted wifh strange divergences 

 from the assumed "types," and if one depended on 

 the book descriptions — some of them at least — he 

 would be often be bewildered. The variely in colora- 

 tion, markings, etc., in eggs of a species cannot be 

 summed up at all adequately in a few lines, and such 

 descriptions, presumed to sufnco for a student of 

 "popular" or spy glass Ornithology, are often more 

 apt to be confusing than enlightning When asser- 

 tions are made repeatedly m such a work that of eggs, 

 yet undiscovered of certain birds, "will not differ'' 

 from related species or sub-species, the "limit" seems 

 to have been reached. There is much concerning the 

 eggs and nesting of even familiar birds which we do 

 not yet know, or which has never been recorded, and 

 all Oologists of experience will agree that to assume to 

 describe birds' eggs which have never yet been found 

 is folly of the most reprehensible sort. 



This Catalogue aims to be a true "working basis" 

 for students and collectors, and at the same time will 

 be found handy, it is hoped, for use as a checking list, 

 the large type and broad margins, with its convenient 

 size for the pocket, commending it to field naturalists. 

 I desire to express appreciation of the kindness of 

 my friend, Hon. John Lewis Childs, of Floral Park, 

 New York, through whose courtesy the matrices for 

 the electrotypes, set up in the best style of the printer's 

 art, and with the list corrected to conform to all A. O. U. 

 additions and changes to date, were secured for this 

 work. Mr. Fred M. Dille, of Denver, has remained 

 awake many nights, the writer is sure, thinking up 

 ideas and "contraptions" for his valuable contribution 

 to this Oological pot-pourri, and I express an indebted- 

 ness profound. 



To my numerous other friends and collaborators 

 whose names are emblazoned on the title page, I can 

 only express a part of the sincere appreciation felt, 

 trusting they will give me credit for doing my little 

 best to harmonize their ideas on prices. To those 

 who either did not have the time or feel the inclina- 

 tion to aid me — well, I am sure you see your mistake 

 now! With this I beg to remain, yours, quite fre- 

 quently, and, Odlogically, 



H. R. T. 

 Alameda, Calif., Sept., 1904. 



