Edgar Chance
Encyclopedia
Edgar Percival Chance was a British
ornithologist
and oologist
who amassed a collection of 25,000 birds’ eggs
. He is noted for his pioneering studies on the parasitic
breeding behaviour of the Common Cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus).
, in the city of Birmingham
, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
. He was a wealthy businessman and industrialist who managed the family chemicals and glass-making business, Chance Brothers
, based in Oldbury, West Midlands
, between the first and second world wars. He was an egg-collector who became fascinated by cuckoo
s and made intensive studies of the Common Cuckoo, in the course of which he wrote two books about the species as well as producing a film. The film – The Cuckoo's Secret – was shot at Pound Green Common in Worcestershire
, showing for the first time that female cuckoos lay their eggs directly into the nests of their hosts, rather than laying them on the ground and placing them in the nests with their bills as was previously widely believed. He also achieved a world record for collecting the most eggs – 25 – from a single female cuckoo in the course of one breeding season (1922).
Chance was a member of the British Ornithologists' Union
– from which his egg collecting eventually resulted in his expulsion – and served on the Council of the British Oological Association
. He named his daughter Cardamine, alluding to the scientific name of the Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis
.
Chance's large egg collection, which includes the eggs of the cuckoo filmed at Pound Green Common, is held at the Natural History Museum at Tring.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
and oologist
Oology
Oology is a branch of ornithology studying bird eggs, nests and breeding behavior. Oology can also refer to the hobby of collecting wild birds' eggs, sometimes called birdnesting or egging, which is now illegal in many jurisdictions.-As a science:Oology became increasingly popular in Britain and...
who amassed a collection of 25,000 birds’ eggs
Bird egg
Bird eggs are laid by females and incubated for a time that varies according to the species; a single young hatches from each egg. Average clutch sizes range from one to about 17...
. He is noted for his pioneering studies on the parasitic
Brood parasite
Brood parasites are organisms that use the strategy of brood parasitism, a kind of kleptoparasitism found among birds, fish or insects, involving the manipulation and use of host individuals either of the same or different species to raise the young of the brood-parasite...
breeding behaviour of the Common Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
The Common Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals....
(Cuculus canorus).
Life
Chance was born at EdgbastonEdgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
, in the city of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He was a wealthy businessman and industrialist who managed the family chemicals and glass-making business, Chance Brothers
Chance Brothers
Chance Brothers and Company was a glassworks originally based in Spon Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands , in England. It was a leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glassmaking technology....
, based in Oldbury, West Midlands
Oldbury, West Midlands
Oldbury is a town in the West Midlands in England. It is a part of the Black Country and the administrative centre of the borough of Sandwell.-Local government:...
, between the first and second world wars. He was an egg-collector who became fascinated by cuckoo
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
s and made intensive studies of the Common Cuckoo, in the course of which he wrote two books about the species as well as producing a film. The film – The Cuckoo's Secret – was shot at Pound Green Common in Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, showing for the first time that female cuckoos lay their eggs directly into the nests of their hosts, rather than laying them on the ground and placing them in the nests with their bills as was previously widely believed. He also achieved a world record for collecting the most eggs – 25 – from a single female cuckoo in the course of one breeding season (1922).
Chance was a member of the British Ornithologists' Union
British Ornithologists' Union
The British Ornithologists' Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation....
– from which his egg collecting eventually resulted in his expulsion – and served on the Council of the British Oological Association
Jourdain Society
The Jourdain Society is a United Kingdom based society, founded by and for oologists, or egg-collectors, its aims being ‘for the advancement of the science of oology’. Originally the British Oological Association, it changed its name in 1946, in memory of distinguished ornithologist and oologist...
. He named his daughter Cardamine, alluding to the scientific name of the Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis
Cardamine pratensis
Cardamine pratensis , is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native throughout most of Europe and Western Asia.-Description:...
.
Chance's large egg collection, which includes the eggs of the cuckoo filmed at Pound Green Common, is held at the Natural History Museum at Tring.
Books
- 1922 – The Cuckoo's Secret. Sidgwick and Jackson: London.
- 1940 – The Truth About the Cuckoo. Country Life: London.
Films
- 1922 – Secrets of Nature: The Cuckoo's Secret. Producer: Edgar Chance. Director of Photography: Oliver PikeOliver G PikeOliver Gregory Pike F.Z.S., F.R.P.S. was a British naturalist wildlife photographer and author and early nature documentary pioneer, specialising in the study of bird life...
. Released by British Instructional Films (BIF). 'The Cuckoo's Secret' is available on the BFIBFIBFI may refer to:* Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, a UK government agency* The IATA airport code for Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington* British Film Institute, a British charitable organisation...
DVD 'Secrets of Nature', released in 2010.
External links
- Online film footage by Chance
- BBC Natural World 'Cuckoo' – information on the episode featuring Chance's footage and a modern reconstruction of his field activities.