The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-12-05
EGGS THAT COST MONEY.
. Variety Eeld at $4,000 Dozen and
Not Warranted Strietlies Either.

n fads of the day the collecting of
II rs eggs is one that interests the
rs Cured and wealthy, and one that may
Re very extensively INDUCED in, while
affords mild recreation to thousands
Sof individuals of moderate means. The
gscientific collection of birds eggs has.
in fact, become fascinating avocation,
and, rightly studied, a pursuit to which
the systematic study of birds, their BIZ
ology, and the laws governing their evo-
luton, is largely indebted, as acknowl-
dyed by no less an authority than Prof.
Huxley himself, who showed that a
study of the markings and shape of the
eggs of the species aided materially in
establishing the close relationship of
the Limicoloe (ployers) and the Gavioe
(gulls and terns).
Aside from it's scientific value, the
collecting of birds eggs entices the en-
thusiast by the marvellous diversity in
size, shape and markings of the eggs,
fifty painted by nature herself to adorn
the richest cabinet.
The raptores, or birds of prey, are
favorite family with biologists, largely
from the endurance, daring and nerve
requisite in scaling cliffs and lofty trees
70 secure their eggs, which are often,
rs in the case of the golden eagle, beau
tifully marked. This grand eagle sell
dom attacks the plunderer of it's eggs,
though it is unsafe to anger the ma
este bird when it's nest contains young.
The eggs are two, and sometimes three,
large, and show great variation in the
markings of purple, lavender and rich
brown, blotched or su1fused over the
surface of the shell. In California,
where these eagles are most numerous,
lofty live oak tree is frequently Sc
lected as n site for the huge nest of
sticks, with its lining of Spanish moss,
used by the birds year after year for
generations. a ledge on cliff is also
common resting place, and out in Wy
oming an eagle has found a perfectly
safe place to raise its young on the fiat
top of giant rock. The nest is in plain
view, but is inaccessible.
The California condor-a bird with
sweep of wing ten feet from tip to tip,
and the largest bird of fight in the
world, not excepting the great Andes
condor-is a species of much interest
to biologists from the extreme rarity
becoming extinct, like the great aux;
and, as if it had forecast of its impend-
ing doom, it resorts to the most pre-
cipitous mountain, where, on some
craggy and perhaps inaccessible steep,
it deposits its single egg of pale, green
ish blue in cave. But seven eggs are
known in collections, and the value of
one considering the probability of the
great birds early eXtinction) is very
great. More than 81 800 has been paid
for single egg of the great aux, Of
which there are 6S eggs in existence.
America can claim two-one at Nassar
college and one at the academy of nat
ural sciences in Philadelphia. The lat
ter collection held for many years
among the rarities an egg of the Cali
lorna condor, but it mysteriously dis
| appeared few years ago, and it is sup
posed some scientific kleptomaniac
thought it no sin to transfer the treas
ure to his own collection, where he is
holding it for rise in price.
Information as to the nesting habits
OF the California condor has been eX.
ceedingly limited, and until 1889, when
an egg was taken for II. r. Taylor, ed
itor of the Nidiologist, no eggs had been
taken since the sos. The taking of this
egg showed the nesting time to be early
in May, and that but one egg is iaid.
The collector secured the great egg after
hazardous climb down Il rope, which
he had fastened to n bush on the bluff
above. The condor's egg was found ly-
ing in hollow in the cave, with few
feathers for nest. The condors had
been frightened off by the discharge of
the collectors gun, and fortunately did
not return while he was in the cave. He
had not come prepared to carry any
eggs, but taking off his shirt he wrapped
the egg in it and lowered it to the bot
tom of the cliff, himself following it
| safely.
Mr.. Walter L. Bryant, for many years
curator of birds in the California acad-
envy of sciences, showed what a col
lector may endure for science on one of
his expeditions to Lower California.
GuadaIoupe island, lying $50 miles off
the coast of Lower California, was al
most an unknown territory to bird stu
dents, and he determined to visit it.
| The island is uninhabited, and vessels
do not usually pass near it, so it was
| some time before he managed to secure
passage on u freight schooner. They
landed him with supply of provisions,
agreeing to return for him in week.
The week passed, but the schooner
came not, and Mr.. Bryant found him
self marooned. He had collected large
lot of rare specimens, and discovered
several new species of birds. From
never having seen the face of man, many
of the birds could be caught by hand.
Delightful as the location was for the
enthusiastic ornithologist, the vanished
supply OF provisions made his position
on Il lonely island unenviable. He was
reduced to dining on shellfish and such
birds as he could secure, and did not es-
cape to the mainland until three weeks
afterward, when the schooner returned
to the island and took off the naturalist
and his specimens.
The nests of nearly all birds are most