The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-02
SOME VERY COSTLY EGGS.
THE GREAT AUK's. WORTH SL,5Oo.
AT THE HEdD OF IHE LIST

Ile nat NObt ITO" Il D-SIOD IuAV Ia
Spend on Eggs of owls-EGgs Of Ployer
and Snipc Hard to Get-Dninty Ergs OF
Observation-Disclosures of Collecting,
Speaking OF eggs" said a collector. "hrinss
to mind one had the pleasure OF holding in
my hand a short time ago, II was not an Tas.
ter egg, and was far handsomer than dyo.
could make IL in its coloring. 1t was an egg
ofthe great aux, a bird OF the far Northland.
which more than half a century ago bocame
extinct. The egg Is one Of the few in exist.
ence. In size 1t equals that 81 our domosti,
goose. 1t Is in the possession Of the hcad.
envy Of Natural Sciences. in Philadelphia. and
that institution. to become its owner. mid "A
price which to a person whose hobby does not
lean toward egg collecting would seem ridI,-
ulous. 1t cost no less than $1,000 and tho
academy was glad to secure it at that price.
The price paid for that egg would easily rur.
chase more than 125. 900 hens eggs. Do Won
know that there are 10000 egg collectors in thu
United States and Canada who. we're they able.
would willingly give $1,000 for an egg Of the
great aux? A skin OF the great aux is worth
from $500 to 81 900. according to its condition.
OF course. there are other high priced eggs.
and we collectors don't have to desert North
America to find them. There is the egg of tina
swallow-tail kite. the most graceful flyer in tho
Western part Of our country. Three eggs in n SOD
| own cost me $50. An egg of the golden caclo
l'l'i'NNlllS 81 NV UtIp, Wlll.1
a set Of two white Ryrfalcons' eggs from Green
lands rocky coast cost me an equal amount.
The Mississippi kite and the Everglades kite.
two of Florida's rarcst species. lny eggs that
readily command SO apiece among collectors
Of wealth. Bald eagles eggs are seldom OBJ
tainable under So each. Prairie falcons eggs
are to be had at $500 each. and If you desire /,
set Of two eggs Of the gray sea eagle. it will re-.
quirc an expenditure Of 81.
- hon Won Gonna IN tho owl fop,i1r ~ ,-L,,L
there are more than a score Of species breed.
ing throughout North America. a 500 note
can easily he spent without obtaining mora
than a dozen varieties. The pigmy owl lava
from four to six eggs to n clutch. and so rarely
are these eggs found that they readily bring
SO each. A set Of four means an expenditure
Of 500. or course. there are owls eggs much
cheaper. Perfect shells Of the snowy owl can
be had ut $3.50 each. Our common screech
ooWl lays an egg whose marketable value is only
or great:horned owl afford SNOWY ass .,' At 80
cents each. To have a complete series q hawks
account by several hundr %drd doiIars. III" ( s et@ y
a iiTs 9 esss 3' at sh s. r fSnr b iittle spa5Tro W hawk
ssgs, Of The brr9ad.wingeSd hawk are "' Sortha
$%& es,erS shells hed 9 fl sT "a hawk and the
little higher at SI'75 each. The o5iosist Who
buys sharp.shinned and nshhaTkis eggs at 30
set OF TOUR can easily be disposed OF at SO. The
red-shoullered hawk cost IS cents each. Com
THn s anniiS' eg I az are , fShe&Sp e. at eight cents each.
ShssaSis at 81: ara the iSSsf pIam SseSF qua al S e RSE,
handsomely marked eggs, and II have BEEN par,
series Of them. The raffe eddeeeir@ grouse. o o1r e e
mon pheasant; lays eggs worth eight cents
f higher. i at 81 fes ssc 3. Of ehe the Ssn rock s srouse s s9
cents eaSsh H. !, q the sharp.tailed grouse at 60
The eggs Of all the members Of the wood.
GeSKer TfSbm nlHy are are 0 Of a crystalline white
sSseiss , Il So 9tS ? Hmerie eaan eae Two ono dozen n
" %h tIntch lays Tb from aue four " to t. e 1shtw esEs t.
T redteoe ePsd; Th Meo ths SECS Of sr the w TEXAN e p9 ID
each. Eggs OF our eemmon am and t tfoublesso some
those fbSw cs ar the he G fisE:efo for s ey1 s cent? g e ssSh; T shdb
perfect condition, can be secured from South:
four woodeoek eggs will cost S. SoNen "S''0'
Eggs Of the plover and snipe family are the
these birds penetrate into the far North to find
q pr 9iysedi of p Sp2ped. in There tSs r is not s { ts2}llsct lion;
egg, Of tic snipe family The eggs Of the yei'
the spring and fail hight Of birds by tho suns
nSE: are TN worth s. each, and are seldom obtain
The green shank, pl3yers' egg Is listed, at
Bring 81 s. e eash.' OF THOSE s9s iSfps t tRt,led wil HaF'f *
cents each; OF the piping plover $y1.25 each.
sandpirers'' eggs come from Labrador, and can
be had tor 81 each; Gulls' eggs. which 90 far
orally considered reasonable in price eto f The
eggs Of the w%hite-winged gil cost 81 Sc. while
e saf s't esss viii hIfifb, e ask e it to Of pay ps sg. 6 ss iiSsfS Fer
them. The gannet. which breeds by the mil.
IIaGn on Ias sse eF ESsk xo S9fs s. 81 80 ba a dShep and T6 GTe sss
otthe KittiWake gull, is reasonable in price at
t t2e ssEts e,1 Ths ilSuChi I'M F gpa which Tak in summer
marshes; lays an egg worth only IL cents. To
nSys fS61 s snens, eSli ef rom g s9S Ep !. s syggs will
The little stormy, petrol. which sailors say
CARRIES snia;sd its ni,S egg NJ under Ter its wing; seeks M
i saofsd as 8 55aS Ssnts s, SS de sfxi T but w HI'Ss
EEn,ied statss are sIN NV 'IesIeo. A nf1"s an a sni
eies Of hawks and also harbors hearty ali ofthRe
varieties of hupmingbirds ac-
finger nail. they command, good prices, Tho
readily sells eli at sa.5o' 'p The rub ,Syi an esf h una.
G"IIispe efS Sm nr1hgs ri a Eggs auo Of G q : s. s, and
eggs Of the black. chinned and Anna hHmmine
plrns are are MEYER !; tho t. p,t be had under 81 80 each;
or wild ducks Barrow's Golden Eye lays the
lily bring IS each. Collectors are wary when it
Sfmes OF 70 the aySt nsks big 1sv p price w fEE ducks, eggs;
distinguished one from the other. They are
Identical IN color. size and shane. and there are
dealers who are unscrunulous enough to palm
of upon the unsuspecting collector the com
mo1er eggs as %raritles. An instance OF this
dealer advertised for. sale eggs OF tho
white and McFarlane's gyrfalcon Mt So
ton from the regular, price, COLLECTORS
throughout the United States quickly
at the bargain. A Philadelphia
was. among. those who purchased
Upon their arrival he closely m
them. and was greatly surprised to find a mi
nIute mark on two Of the eggs. which he used as
his own private nomenclature number. They
were eggs OF the fish hawk. which he had sent
N. exchange to a New York friend. who had
SttGrwaTd disposed OF them to tho ,Tornnto
dealer, They were worth 90 cents each. When
ne collectors who had been duped learned Of