6 
by whom they were taken, adding always a reference to the journal or 
note-book of the collector, wherein fuller details may be given. It is 
advisable to do this on some regular system, and the following method 
is suggested as one that has already been found to work well in prac¬ 
tice. The scientific names only to be used, except with a mark of 
doubt or within brackets, when the specimens have really been satis¬ 
factorily identified ; and if the identification has been made by obtain¬ 
ing one or both of the parent birds a memorandum of the fact to be 
added, thus : “ Both birds snared,” “ Bird shot,” or in smaller space, 
“ Bd. st.” If the identification has been effected only by obtaining 
a good view of the birds the fact should be stated thus : “ Bird well 
seen,” Bird seen,” or “Bd. sn.,” as the case may be. For eggs not taken 
by the collector himself, but brought in by natives, or persons not 
having a scientific knowledge of Ornithology, the local name or the name 
applied by the finder should only be used, unless, indeed, it requires 
interpretation, when the scientific name may be added, but always 
within brackets, thus : “ Tooglee-aiah (Squatarola helvetica ),” the 
necessary particulars relating to the capture and identification being 
added. Eggs found by the collector and not identified by him, but 
the origin of which he has reason to think he knows, may be inscribed 
with the common English name of the species to which he refers them ; 
or if it has no such appellation then the scientific name may be used, 
but in that case always with a note of interrogation (?) after it, or else 
the words “ Not identified.” If the collector prefers it, many of these 
particulars may be inscribed symbolically or in short hand, but never 
unless the system used has previously been agreed upon with persons 
at home, and it be known that they have a key to it. Each specimen 
should bear an inscription ; those from the same nest may be 
inscribed identically ; but different nests, especially of the same or 
nearly allied species, should never be so marked that confusion can 
possibly arise. It is desirable to mark temporarily with a pencil each 
egg as it is obtained ; but the permanent inscription, which should 
always be in ink, should be deferred until after the egg has been 
emptied. The number terminating the inscription in all cases referring 
to the entry in the collector’s note-book, wherein full details will be 
found, and the words or letters preceding the number serving to dis¬ 
tinguish between different collectors, no two of whom ought to employ 
the same. The initial letter of the collector’s name prefixed to the 
number will often be sufficient. 
