32 THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
the study of oology; something more is needed than the mere 
excitement of the discovery of a species, or nest, or egg, new 
to the collector. The bird itself, its nest and other things 
connected with it, should furnish much matter for thought and 
study on the part of the collector ; and to make this collection, 
or the thoughts and discoveries of any real use, the collector 
or student should keep a journal or diary, wherein should be 
entered full particulars and details of his finds and observa¬ 
tions. Every collector should keep his journal up to date, 
and properly indexed to aid him or others to make easy 
reference to any notes it may be necessary to consult. 
The requisites for collecting and preserving next require 
our attention. It should be particularly noted that personal 
character has a great deal to do with the making or marring 
of a collector when engaged in his search for nests. Unless 
he has a quick ear, a sharp eye, a good share of pluck and 
patience, and is able to endure a more than average amount 
of rough travelling and fatigue, he has but a poor chance of 
becoming a successful nest-hunter. Supposing a collector 
(or would-be collector) comes fairly up to the mark as regards 
these points, there still remain other necessaries to complete 
the outfit, but as nearly all these can be made at home, or 
procured to order from any dealer in Natural History appara¬ 
tus, it may be safely assumed that a start will be made in due 
course. 
First of all comes a box or tin to place the eggs in, and 
carry them safely home, and to aid their safe transmission 
a plentiful supply of cotton-wool will be found almost indis¬ 
pensable ; wrap each egg separately in a piece of cotton-wool 
and then in a piece of soft paper. 
An egg scoop is a very handy article for getting at eggs in 
out-of-the-way places, such as holes in banks or trees, behind 
rocks, large stones or in corners of barns, &c.; it can easily be 
made by taking a rather soft piece of iron wire and bending 
one end round so as to form a coil, which can be depressed or 
flattened at will. When not in use the whole can be folded 
up in so small a compass as to easily go in an ordinary pocket. 
Climbing irons are in some cases indispensable, especially 
where much tree climbing has to be done; as it is impossible 
for the collector to make these himself, he must certainly buy 
them, and in so doing he should see that he gets a thoroughly 
reliable article, well made, and with hardened steel points. 
I have often found a piece of looking glass very handy indeed, 
when out nesting; by its means I have been able to ascertain 
whether certain nests contain eggs or not, without the labour 
of cutting branches, or a hard struggle into the middle of a 
thick bramble or whitethorn. The looking glass is fastened to 
