should be little or no difference in the relative size of 

 the eggs of these birds." 



When we step from this instance to naming the 

 common eggs of the European Goldcrest (Regulus 

 cristatus) as the same thing as the Golden-crowned 

 Kinglet of this continent; the Firecrest as the Ruby- 

 crowned Kinglet; the common Wren of Europe as 

 our." own, etc., then the present writer desires to 

 express condolence. 



it may be a matter of taste. If our collectors 

 really accept eggs of the European species, admittedly 

 (as has been advanced as an argument) at a greatly 

 reduced price, and are satisfied, it is their own con- 

 cern. It is only where any deception is practiced 

 that a protest need be voiced. 



In comparing eggs of our Numenius longirostris from 

 Montana, in my collection, I find the European eggs, 

 even a picked set sent me, mighty poor imitations 

 of the real article. They are Curlew's, and there the 

 comparison ends. The present writer cannot approve 

 of sending out eggs of the European bird, even though 

 the price be low, if labeled "Long- billed Curlew, 

 Europe." 



American collectors are obliged to obtain many sets 

 of birds on our lists from dealers and others in Europe 

 who have correspondents in Iceland, Lapland, etc., 

 and there is no intention here of disparaging these 

 eggs so long as they come from careful Oologists. As 

 to eggs of the Red Phalarope, Crymophilus fulicarius 

 (also' known as Gray Phalarope), a well known Oolo- 

 gist familiar with sets from Europe writes me : ■ ' Al- 

 ways bear in mind that it is risky taking eggs of this 

 species either for cash or exchange that are from Ice- 

 land. Ninety or more out of a hundred of such sets 

 are really only those of the Red-necked Phalarope." 



EUROPEAN METHODS. 



In this connection some remarks as to methods of 

 European Oologists may hot be amiss. Data with 

 sets is usually much more meagre, and less point is 

 made in Europe than here, probably, in most: cases at 

 least, on the question of size of holes in eggs. Choicely 

 prepared eggs in this country have a higher value, but 

 many collectors do not object to eggs with holes bored 

 of fairly "decent" size, and in a large collection one 

 is obliged to take many which are not blown with 

 "pin point" borings. To take as much pains as pos- 

 sible and avoid augur holes, is probably a safe rule to 

 follow. 



The European Oologists make it a rule to mark, upon 

 one egg in a set at least, the most important data, as, 

 locality, date, and sometimes the collector's name, 

 while all eggs, of course, have their individual set 

 mark. If the data label should be lost it can thus be 

 replaced, which is a decided advantage, and with care 

 the egg is not disfigured with marking. A soft pencil 

 is sufficient. Many of our collectors favor the Euro- 

 pean plan. Mr. C. W. Crandall suggests to me that 

 collectors place upon eggs some individual mark. In 

 looking over a series of American Bittern he recently 

 found four sets all marked "£," naturally creating 

 confusion. It is well to affix initals, date, or at least 



