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Egg-collecting and Its Object — Part 1

A COLLECTION of eggs, to be of any real value, must be formed according to some prearranged method and for some definite purpose--not haphazard, with merely the idea of accumulating a great quantity of eggs. The amateur collector is generally without any notes, such as where found or the number in nest; in fact, he is apt to have nothing but somewhat uncertain names of eggs obtained by exchange or purchased from some dealer--secured in any way so that the number be great. What, may I ask, has ever been gained from such a collection? And after the craze has lasted a year or two, the whole thing is put aside and forgotten, to be destroyed by neglect.

The object of a collection is to show not only the individual egg, but how conditions affect eggs of a given species in different parts of the country. Thus it is of the utmost importance that it should be known where the eggs were procured; the date should be given, so that it may be possible to find out whether in different places the nesting season varies, and, if so, how great is the variation. The catalogue should contain exact information on these points, together with notes relating to the nest; whether placed on the ground, or in bushes or trees, etc.

All notes should be made on the spot and not from memory. A small pocketbook should be carried for that purpose, and these notes ought finally to be arranged in a larger book, either in chronological order or under the name of each bird; the latter is probably the better way as it is easier to refer to and needs no index. Be careful that all information is accurate. Anything taken from hearsay should be marked as such. In most cases it is better to have nothing but notes made from personal observation.

As I have said before, birds, though governed by certain rules, do occasionally change or modify their habits; so that notes on the habits of a given species should specify whether or not they were taken from an individual bird or from numerous individuals of that species.

Among the numerous points to be noticed may be mentioned the following: When birds are seen pairing; when nests are commenced; how long building; whether built by one or both birds; materials used in the construction, from where gathered; where the nest is placed; if on the ground, whether on a sod or tussock, in a tuft of grass or in a depression, in damp or dry places, in open country, in woods or in thickets; if in a bush, what kind of bush; the height from the ground; whether in a crotch, saddled on a branch or pendent; the size of nests; when the eggs are laid; interval between laying; period of incubation; whether both birds or only the female takes part in that duty; appearance of young when hatched, and at different ages; at what age they leave the nest; which of the parent birds provides the food, or whether both do; of what does the food consist; what becomes of the young when they leave the nest; and so on with the numberless points which go to differentiate one bird from another.

The period of incubation varies of course with different birds; for instance, with the white-eyed vireo it is about seven days; the indigo-bird takes ten days, the wood thrush twelve, and the ruffed grouse eighteen. The time should be taken from the day the bird actually commences sitting and not necessarily from the day on which the last egg is laid. Eggs are usually laid during the morning, between the hours of nine and eleven, but the bird does not always begin to sit the same day that the last egg is laid. Some birds commence sitting before laying the full complement of eggs; in these cases the young are hatched at intervals.

The age at which young birds leave their nests is not dependent on the size of the bird. The gallinaceous species, such as the grouse, quail, turkey, etc., being well developed when hatched, desert the nest within a few hours after leaving the egg; the young wood thrushes keep to the nest for ten days, by which time they are pretty well feathered, the tail being rather more than one inch in length; the white-eyed vireo leaves when seven days old; while the owls stay in their nest for several weeks.

A few birds build their nests indiscriminately on the ground or in bushes. In some localities certain birds almost invariably choose the ground, while in some other place, where conditions do not appear to be in any way different, the same bird selects bushes. Notes of this kind are of interest and should be worth the trouble of systematic investigation.