OOLOGISTS VS. “RAGE” COLLECTORS.
BY W. HULL.
By a “Rage” Collector is meant one who is suddenly seized with the idea that he is deeply interested in oology, and must get together a collection of eggs as soon as possible. Some are inspired by reading oological papers, others become interested by associating with those who are at the height of excitement.
A great many persons are seized with a greater or less desire to collect stamps, coins, etc. These can be identified at any time, but eggs cannot.
A true oologist collects with a scientific purpose, actuated by a true love of nature, and an egg is of no value to him unless its identity is certain. Some collectors have a large collection, but know little or nothing about the parent birds. This would not be the case if they really cared for the eggs, but they simply keep them to gaze upon in blank admiration and boast that they have so many more eggs than some one else who may or may not collect with real interest.
I have on my tongue’s end the names of at least two dozen collectors of this class, those that collect merely for the number of eggs. These collectors can truly be called “Great American Egg Hogs.” Unrefined as this expression is, nevertheless it is to the point.
This class of collectors number many hundred throughout the United States and Canada. The excuse is “that egg collecting is a healthful and innocent pastime.” Healthful it is, if one collects the eggs himself (which is not the case with the majority) but as to the innocence, that is due to the fact that it is not taken under a full view, and as long as it is healthful and no serious results are immediately visible, it is taken for granted to be innocent. This is a matter which the American Ornithologist’s Union is acting upon, and appeals to the true oologists, for their assistance in discouraging these “naturalists”(?) in their wild career.—Milwaukee Naturalist.