THE CONDOR 
Von. XII 
Farallone Islands in 1904, were the thickest shelled eggs of their size I have ever col- 
lected; as likewise, among larger eggs, are those of the domesticated Guinea Fowl. 
Runt and double-yolkt eggs are also deserving of notice. In all I have ever 
read, tho, of the taking of runt eggs, the writer always failed to state whether or 
not he observed any trace of incubation in them. This I consider an important 
point and worthy of investigation. Of double-yolkt eggs I can only personally 
record a single instance, that of a Western Tree Swallow' ( Tachycineta b i color) . 
The egg, wdiich I found at Rowlands, on Take Tahoe (June 18, 1903), was all the nest 
held and w r as elliptical oval in shape, measuring .84X.54. It held two perfectly 
formed embryos equal in size. 
The indelibleness of egg-markings in some species and the lack of it in others, 
as the Bicolored Blackbird, Bullock Oriole and others, without going into detail, is 
also an important part of bird study. Should it receive more attention it may be 
found perhaps that all pigment has equal indelible qualities, and that the difference 
lies in the lack of a porous quality in shell texture. Most collectors have noticed 
the tendency of the ground color to fade in certain eggs. Some, that seem imper- 
vious to water, fade to a certain extent after being kept in a closed cabinet. I am 
not speaking of open cabinets, for these it seems w'ill in time bleach almost any spec- 
imen. The late Walter E. Bryant once told me of some eggs formerly kept in the 
Woodward's Gardens Museum which after being displayed for years in a bright 
light faded to almost w'hite. 
We need, I think, more Sherlock Holmesism in the study of birds and eggs. 
Too many collectors of the latter pay too little attention to dependent conditions 
and too much to the thumbing of some egg-dealer's price-list. The publishing of 
these, should be prohibited, stimulating, as they do, egg-commercialism at the ex- 
pense of true science. These lists, even as a table showing comparative rarity, are 
valueless. 
My third point is: Why is the study of eggs given such a prominent place in 
bird magazines and yet so neglected in our scientific institutions? (Of the latter 
I can only speak of those on the coast.) I remember that the California Academy of 
Sciences, before the fire, had, in connection with the magnificent collection of 
mounted birds and bird-skins, but one lonely little case of eggs containing not more 
perhaps than would be taken by the average collector in a season; and at the present 
time, in a prominent museum across the bay, I have been informed that eggs are 
deemed of little importance: in other w T ords are considered a mere “side-show” to 
the collection of birds. To me, the fact that two classes of people, the small boy 
and the commercial collector, have brought odium on egg-collecting, can in no w r ay 
detract from its importance; and neither does the fact that eggs are more or less 
dependent on the birds, inasmuch as often the identity of the parents must be de- 
termined before that of the eggs can be establisht. • I believe it time to sound a note 
of warning, for sometime in the future, eggs will be given their proper place in 
bird study and the coast Museums should have adequate space reserved for their 
accommodation. In fact, I think a California Museum equipt wfith proper cabi- 
nets would soon accumulate quite an extensive collection thru the donations of 
club members and others, and some day, should the interest that has been taken in 
geographical variation extend to eggs, W'e will not have to send east of the Rockies 
to borrow specimens; for it is a w'ell knowm fact that the finest collections of Cali- 
fornian eggs are not where they should be, here in California. 
