14 
§ VI. 
CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 
The best allies of the collector are the residents in the country, 
whether aboriginal or settlers, and with them he should always endea¬ 
vour to cultivate a close intimacy, which may be assisted by the offer 
of small rewards for the discovery of nests or eggs. He should, how¬ 
ever, always insist upon any nests found being shown to him in situ , 
and the gratuities paid should be proportioned to his success in iden¬ 
tifying the species to which they belong. He should steadily refuse 
any but the most trifling remuneration for nests or eggs taken and 
brought to him. As a rule the eggs of the different species of Plovers 
and Sandpipers (Charadricidcn and Scolopaciclce) are those most wanted 
by Oologists of all countries. These birds mostly breed in high 
northern latitudes, but they often choose elevated spots for nesting in 
more southern parallels. Their nests are nearly always difficult to 
find, even when the birds are discovered. Their habit is, if the ground 
be at all rough with herbage, to run off the nest for some distance 
before taking wing as the observer approaches , if the ground be bare 
they will try to escape observation by squatting closely until they 
are almost trodden upon. The best method of finding them, and 
indeed the nests of some other species, is for the collector to conceal 
himself near the place where he has reason to believe the eggs are, 
and to endeavour to watch the bird as she returns to her nest—using 
a telescope if necessary ; but should this fail, after giving her time to 
settle herself upon it, to fire off a gun suddenly, or spring up and shout, 
when the bird, in her surprise, will often at once take wing from the 
nest, or at least without running many yards. To reach the nests of 
rock-building birds a man or boy can be lowered by a rope from the 
top, when it is accessible. The rope should always be tied under the 
arms of the person lowered, as substances, detached from above by the 
friction of the rope, may, by falling on him, stun him for a moment, 
and cause him to lose his hold. But in all places and at all times an 
egg-collector should recollect that identification and authentication 
are his main objects, to attain which no trouble is too laborious, no 
care too great. 
It does not come within the scope of this paper to offer any remarks 
on the arrangement or method of exhibiting eggs in cabinets. What 
has been attempted is simply a series of suggestions for collectors in 
the field. They are especially urged to aid the study of Oology by 
