I 
112 ORNITHOLOGIIST [Vol. 7-No. 22 
OR NIT IIO LOG I ST 
—AND— 
()()L()GI ST. 
A MONTHLY MAOA/.INK DEVOTED TO 
THE STUDY OF UIRDS, THEIH NESTS AND EOOS. 
r/o.s. .V. w.tnE, liniroii, 
V\'ith the co-o|)eratioii of able Oniitholopcal 
Writers and Collectors. 
Subscription— fl.OO yjcr annum. Foreign subecrip- 
tion $1.2.5 —including pontage. Specimen 
Copies Ten Cents. 
JOS. M. WADE, Boston, Mass. 
Standard of Value. —A correspondent 
writes: “ Have Aiuerittan Ornithologists 
and Oolog^ists any standard list of birds 
and eggs that they stick to?” We are 
soiTv to say they have not. Exchanofing- 
11 ]) to this time is done decidedly at ran¬ 
dom. A short time ago we tried to find 
the value of Mallard Duck’s eggs. One 
dealer asked ten cents, the next wanted 
forty cents, and this is about the present 
state of the skin and egg market. For 
some years we have urged the enterpris¬ 
ing firm of INfessrs. Southwick & .Tencks 
to get out a catalogue of permanent prices 
that all could accept as a liasis, and their 
present catalogue is their first attemjit in 
this line. To us it is a handy book of ref¬ 
erence ; but they are now engaged on a 
catalogue in whicli they will attempt to 
give a A’alueof all skins and eggs, whether 
they have them on hand or not. It will 
also contain instruction to collectors, etc., 
and will be indispensable to all. 
Duty on Kno5\xedoe.— It is a disgrace 
in this enlightened age that our friends 
over the border should have to jiay forty- 
seven cents duty on a small work like 
Cones’ new Check List. 
This is contrary to the British princi¬ 
ples of free trade, and we have no doubt 
but that the Dominion Parliament will 
remedy this evil, as their attention is be¬ 
ing called to it by petition. The states¬ 
man is indeed blind that votes for a tax 
on scientific knowledge. 
Contributions for the columns of the 0. 
and O. are always in order and thankfully 
received. But they must be accurate and 
careful statements of bona fide observa¬ 
tions. The day of guess-work is passed. 
If you find a rare nest or secure a rare 
bird, make positively sure of the identity 
before removing it. Identify without de¬ 
stroying life, if possible, but identify all 
rare finds ; then describe them with the 
utmost care for the O. and O. Do it care¬ 
fully, that your readers can also identify 
them from your descrijition, and you will 
win recognition from American oniitholo- 
gists. Study the style of the (). and O. 
and write as near that as possible, on a 
se 2 iarate sheet of jiajier, and your commu¬ 
nication will sooner appear. We are glad 
to get any news on iiostal cards or other¬ 
wise, and if all are not replied to, it is more 
for the want of time than aiipreciation. 
We have on hand much good matter 
mixed in with letters which remained un- 
imblished for want of time. Write on a 
separate sheet. 
AV ANTED TO Know —AVhy the Ground 
Building Owls should lay twice as many 
eggs as those which build in trees ? 
AVhy the Orchard Oriole should use 
green material to build its nest ? 
Why harmless, industrious birds were 
created and cruel, nxiiai-ious ones iinule to 
jirey uiion them ? 
AVhy some birds will keep on laying 
when their eggs are removed daily from 
the nest? 
AVhy some birds that feed on insects all 
Summer, instead of migrating, feed on 
berries in the Winter? 
Why every one interested in O. and O. 
don't send us .SI, for a subscription and in¬ 
duce their friends to do likewise ? 
More about the moulting of birds ? 
.lust *• when the swallows homeward fly? ’ 
If all have noted the change in our lul- 
dress from Norwich. Conn., to Box 1829. 
Boston, Mass. ? 
