SUGGESTIONS FOR PROPERLY FORMING COLLECTIONS OF BIRDS’ EGGS.
If the identification has been effected only by obtaining a good view of the birds, the fact should be stated thus: “Bird well seen,” “Bird seen,” or “Bd. sn.,” as the case may be. For eggs not taken by the collector himself, but brought in by natives, or persons not having a knowledge of ornithology, the local name or the name applied by the finder should only be used, unless indeed it requires interpretation, when the scientific name may be added, but always within brackets thus: “Toogle-aiah (Squatarole helvetica);” the necessary particulars relating to the capture and identification being added. Eggs found by the collector, and not identified by him, but the origin of which he has reason to think he knows, may be inscribed with the common English name of the species to which he refers them; or if it has no appellation, then the scientific name may be used, but in that case always with a note of interrogation (?) after it, or else the words “Not identified.” If the collector prefers it, many of these particulars may be inscribed symbolically or in short-hand, but never unless the system used has previously been agreed upon with persons at home, and it be known that they have a key to it. Each specimen should bear an inscription; those from the same nest may be inscribed; but different nests, especially of the same or nearly allied species, should never be so marked that confusion can possibly arise. It is desirable to mark temporarily with a pencil each egg as it is obtained; but the permanent inscription, which should always be ink, should be deferred until after the egg has been emptied. The number terminating the inscription in all cases referring to the page of the collector’s note-book, wherein full details may be found, and the words or letters preceding the number serving to distinguish between different collectors, no two of whom ought to employ the same. (The initial letter of the collector’s name, prefixed to the number, will often be sufficient.)