The National tribune., 1895-11-14

NEST OF THE CALIFORNIA BUSH TIT.
The ground.coors may be white cream, blue,
etc, and there is no limit to tha variety in
markings.
All the eggs in one nest constitute set"
| in the language Of the collector, and, having
been nicely blown and rinsed with a blow-pipe
through one very small round hole drilled in
the side of each, the eggs are marked in pencil
according to the number given to the bird in
the official list OF the American Ornithoogists'
Union, and placed in the cabinet with tho data,
recording locality date. description of nest etc.
A system of "set marks" is also used, SO that
the eggs belonging to different "sets" may not
| become mixed.
Unlike many other fads the accumulation of
scientific collection of birds eggs requires
considerable knowledge and scientific training.
| The birds must be studied in their haunts; bird
| literature, of which there is no lack, must be
delved into to supply proper Identification.
| The collector goes back to nature for knowl-
edge, becomes proficient in the craft of the
woods and partakes in part of the wild, free
nature of the birds. Like Thoreau, or other
philosophers of the woods, if they do not find
birds eggs, or frnits or nuts, they find wis.
| DOM and they find health
Differing from birds, and so many other OBJ
jects of natural history. eggs do not always
| carry their identity, and the knowledge
and accuracy of the collector must be depended
and warblers it is often impossible even for an
expert to name the eggs without having seen
! the bird or at least the nest; for nearly all
birds have each their peculiar methods of
building, use certain materials, and select nest
| ing-sites known to the collector who has made
study of the feathered creation.
Maj. Charles E. Bendire began studying the
habits of birds and collecting their eggs while
in active service in the United States Army, his
camp life in Oregon. Arizona, and New Mexico
enabling him to build up collection of thou
sands of specimens many being very rare.
These he donated to the National Museum at
Washington, forming the basis of the present
unrivalled collection, of which Maj. Bendire is
the Honorary Curator. The Government is
about to publish Vol. H. of his Life Histories
of North American Birds" with superb coored
plates Of eggs, which is looked forward to with
great interest by the oologists Of the country.
OF private egg collections one of the largest
is that Of Mr.. J. Parker Norris, the well-known
lawyer of Philadelphia, who has put over Sl0.-
600 into the purchase of rare egg-shells. This
collection now numbers %, 900 specimens. 1000
"sets." representing 595 species and sub-species.
Owing to the surprising variation shown in the
size and markings Of eggs Of the same species,
large series of "sets" of each Kind arc secured
as far as possible.
At Wooaside, y. Mr.. .. w. CapuHsf has
been quietly adding rarities to his large collcc-
| tion, by purchase or exchange, for IL years.
1t includes curious eggs from all continents.
the cassowary's from Timbuctoo and the queer
yellow eggs OF the rhea, or South American
ostrich, contrasting with green black imus
eggs and the yellow.ivo of the African
ostrich. Then there are Is species OF eagles
eggs, while the eggs Of the Lapp owl rest by
the side of those of the little Indian pigmy owl.
Many beautiful gyrfalcon's eggs from Iceland
| and other rarities adorn the collection, which
| o1,,l. -. cate nf aavue
| of 600 species of North American birds and 300
| foreign. The amount of work which,, the
gathering of SO many eggs represent, not to
speak OF the hazard of life. is immense. Look
ing upon rare set of gyrfalcon's eggs in a
cabinet, one must think of the intrepid col.