170 Bird -Lore the direction of bird protection and the dissemination of knowledge of the birds. Through the spring they are out every day they can get from busi- ness, studying nest-building, egg-laying and birds' food. During the past month I have found as many as twenty-five nests with eggs in them, in a single day, and my entire season's take has been just four nests of eggs, These eggs were all fresh -laid, and I have studied oology enough to know that in every instance, under natural conditions, another set of eggs will be laid this season by these same birds that I despoiled. The eggs I took were all blown with one hole on the side, not because they look pretty that way, but in order that absolutely accurate measurement may be made of their length. During my collecting trips I have also learned that the Warbling Vireo will sing continuously while sitting on its eggs, that the Red-eyed Vireo is a glorious night singer, that the Wood Thrush will fix and occupy its last year's nest, that the Carolina Wren and the Barn Owl are rapidly extending their breeding range in this locality, and that the Bluebird, although nearly extinct in Pennsylvania some years since, is now as numerous as ever. These facts I learned while hunting eggs, and I would not have learned them if I had not been hunting eggs. Oologists have proved to the satisfaction of the state lawmakers that the Red -tailed Hawk is a highly useful bird to the farmer, and, instead of pay- ing a bounty of fifty cents for its head, the Pennsylvania law now protects it. I might say that the oologists see that the law is enforced, too. Mr. Montgomery has much to learn in this matter of bird protection. If he were out in the field every day hunting the birds and their homes he would know that the Cowbird, protected by law in Pennsylvania, is respon- sible for the destruction of fully one-half of all the Warbler and Vireo eggs that are laid. He would find that the common house cat and the red squirrel are great egg- and young-bird destroyers. He would also discover that the character of the spring weather had much to do with the success of the birds in rearing their young. There are a number of fine egg collections in and around West Chester, and yet our bird population is noticeably increasing from year to year. Respectfully yours, West Chester, Pa., June 6, 1906- ROBERT P. SHARPLES. [We give space to Mr. Sharpies' letter, not because we believe in egg- collecting, but because we believe that in any controversy both sides have an equal right to a hearing. — EDITOR.]
