Oological 



BY TAYLOR. 



Oology, which treats of eggs — naturally enough 

 comprehending the study of the habits of birds during 

 that most interesting period, the breeding season — 

 with the peculiar and often singularly beautiful homes 

 the feathered artisans construct, in situations widely 

 various, in which to deposit their eggs; the form and 

 coloration of these products of the oviduct, which, in 

 their wonderful variety, form an endless chain of in- 

 terest to the naturalist; and, indeed, a study which 

 embraces a love of all things wild and free, of the mar- 

 vels of nature which are miracles new every day — 

 with a study so vast and so absorbing is it a wonder 

 that out of this most delightful branch of Ornithology 

 the true enthusiast is born? 



Oology claims its votaries among students and col- 

 lector-students (who get their facts first hand) the 

 world over — men like the late Major Chas. E. Ben- 

 dire, John C. Cahoon and others of America; Wooley, 

 of England, and many more who might be mentioned 

 here, have risked their lives (some to lose them in 

 daring cliff descents) and endured hardships in many 

 lands in pursuit of scientific knowledge and in the 

 acquisition of rarities in nests and eggs. The jour- 

 nals of some of these men (as Wooley 's) are human 

 documents which will be read with admiration by all 

 true naturalists for perhaps centuries to come. 



An Oologist is not to be made to order for the occa- 

 sion, even to satisfy the demands of a publisher! Once 

 an Oologist and the delights of the pursuit are never 

 to be forgotten. The late Judge J. N. Clark (rest his 

 memory!) was as enthusiastic as a boy up to the close, 

 at past three score and ten of his honorable career. It 

 is not a child's hobby, but a serious study and one 

 which brings its compensations for the hardest day's 

 tramp, the "fiercest" climb, to the true collector. It 

 requires much research to be intelligently followed, 

 for sets of eggs taken indiscriminately, without proper 

 data, with careless preparation or without being ab- 

 solute positive as to identity, are valueless — or worse. 



I saw a friend of mine (a true Oologist) not long 

 ago take up a set from his collection labeled "Curlew 

 Sandpiper." "Maybe they are, and maybe they are 

 not," he said, and suiting his action to the words he 

 crumpled the egg shells into fragments and tossed 

 them into the coal scuttle. It was a fitting receptacle 

 for eggs of dubious authenticity, especially so when 

 thev were assumed to be of such rarity. 



Where absolute authenticity means so much, if the 

 better class of collectors would unite in discouraging 

 reckless handling and sale of eggs, where such is ap- 

 parent, and encourage scrupulous honesty in dealings, 

 in every way which suggests itself, much good might 

 result. So long as ignorant handling of specimens and 

 carelesness are tolerated individuals who do not hesi- 

 tate at long guesses will thrive and even attain to a 

 certain reputation! Is it not better to have fewer sets 

 and have them from strictly reliable sources than 

 many that are "probably" the real thing or are de- 

 clared to be "just as good"? 





