15 
D J 
exercising greater zeal than many have hitherto been wont to do in 
seeking and recording precise information relative to the specimens 
they procure, and that at the very time and place when only it may be 
sought and recorded. It follows of necessity that such information 
should not be neglected by Oologists at home, but carefully entered 
and preserved in the catalogues of their collections, which all Oologists 
ought to keep. In many cases they may prefer forming these cata¬ 
logues on their own plan ; indeed for general collections of eggs they 
are obliged so to do ; but to those who are content with a moderate 
series of the eggs of British birds only the useful ‘ Systematic Cata¬ 
logue 1 * of the Rev. S. C. Malan will be found of very great con¬ 
venience, though the plan recommended by that gentleman, of using 
tickets to distinguish the specimens instead of writing in ink on their 
shells, appears to the author, as has been stated above, to be liable to 
many grave objections. But with the simple substitution of inscrip¬ 
tions for tickets (which are so easily removable) Mr. Malan’s method 
seems deserving of very great commendation, for it is the comparative 
indelibility of the former which gives them so great an advantage over 
the latter as permanent records of identification and authenti¬ 
cation. 
* ‘ A Systematic Catalogue of tlie Eggs of British Birds,’ arranged with a view 
to supersede the use of labels for eggs, by the Rev. S. C. Malan, M.A. London: 
[ John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row. 1848. 8vo, pp. 170. Price 8s. 6d. 
Printed by E. Newman, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsyatt Street, London, 
