50 
FIELD ORNITHOLOGY. 
case the anvil-shaped bones, the palatal cylinders already mentioned; and sometimes other 
portions come apart, the whole are best kept in a suitable box. I prefer to see a skull with 
the sheath of the beak removed, though in some cases, particularly of hard-billed birds, it 
may profitably be left on. The completed preparations should be fully labelled by writing on 
the bone, in preference to an accompanyiug or attached paper slip, which may be lost. Some 
object to this, as others do to -WTiting on eggs, that it " defaces " the specimen j but I confess 
I see in dry bones no beauty but that of utility. 
"In many families of birds, as the ducks {AnatidfB), the trachea or windpipe of the male 
affords valuable means of distinguishing between the ditferent natural groups, or even species, 
chiefly by the form of the bony labyrinth, or hulla ossea, situated at or just above the divari- 
cation of the bronchial tubes. A little trouble will enable the collector in all cases to preserve 
this organ perfectly, as represented in the annexed engraving (fig. 3). Before proceeding to 
skin the specimen, a narrow-bladed knife should be introduced into its mouth and by taking 
hold of the tongue (A) by the fingers or forceps, the muscles {B B) by which it is attached to 
the lower jaw should be severed as far as they can be reached, care being of course taken not 
to puncture the windpipe (CO); and later in the operation of skinning, when dividing the 
body from the neck or head, not to cut into or through it. This done, the windpipe can be 
easily withdrawn entire and separated from the neck, and then the sternal apparatus being 
removed as before described, its course must be traced to where, after branching off in a fork 
(D), the bronchial tubes (E E) join the lungs. At these latter points it is to be cut oft'. Then 
rinsing it in cold water, and leaving it to dry partially, it may, while yet pliant, be either 
wrapped round the sternum, or coiled up and labelled separately." — {A. Newton.) 
§ 9. — COLLECTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Ornithology and Oology are twin studies, or rather one includes the other. A collec- 
tion of nests and eggs is indispensable for any thorough study of birds; and many persons 
find peculiar pleasure in forming one. Some, however, shrink from'' robbing birds' nests" 
as something particularly cruel; a sentiment springing, no doubt, from the sympathy and 
deference that the tender office of maternity inspires ; but with all proper respect for the 
humane emotion, it may be said simply, that birds'-nesting is not nearly so cruel as bird- 
shooting. What I said in a former section, in endeavoring to guide search for birds, applies 
in substance to hunting for their nests ; the essential difference is, that the latter are of 
course stationary objects, and consequently more liable to be overlooked, other things being 
equal, than birds themselves. Most birds nest on trees or bushes ; many on the ground 
and on rocks; others in hollows. Some build elegant, elaborate structures, endlessly varied 
in details of form and material ; others make no nest whatever. In this country, egging is 
chiefly practicable in May and during the summer; but some species, particularly birds of 
prey, begin to lay in January, while, on our southern border at least, the season of repro- 
duction is protracted through September ; so there is really a long period for search. Par- 
ticular nests, of course, like the birds that build them, can only be found through ornithological 
knowledge; but general search is usually rewarded with a varied assortment. The best clew 
to a hidden nest is the actions of the parents ; patient watchfulness is commonly successful in 
tracing the bird's home. As the science of oology has not progressed to the point of deter- 
mining from the nests and eggs to what bird they belong, in even a majority of cases, the 
utmost care in authentication is indispensable. To be worth anything, not to be worse 
than worthless in fact, an egg must be identified beyond question ; must be not only 
unsuspected, but above suspicion. A shade of suspicion is often attached to dealers' eggs ; 
not necessarily implying bad faith or even negligence on the dealers' part, but from the nature 
of the case. It is often extremely difficult to make an unquestionable determination, as for 
