Egg Collecting and Bird Life of Australia
Encyclopedia
Egg collecting and bird life of Australia is a quarto-sized
book authored and published in 1907 by field ornithologist
and oologist
Sidney William Jackson
. The full title text reads: "Egg collecting and bird life of Australia. Catalogue and data of the “Jacksonian oological collection”, illustrated with numerous photographs depicting various incidents and items in connection with this interesting study, which has been the life work of the Author."
, north-eastern New South Wales
, then containing large areas of subtropical rainforest, with others from further afield being acquired through correspondence. The inclusion of numerous anecdotes about how the eggs he collected personally were obtained, with notes on the birds and their habitats as well as the many photographs of people and activities related to the collecting, add autobiographical and historical dimensions to the work.
The author says in his preface:
Exemplifying both Jackson’s prose style and his approach to his work, the following extract (omitting references to other works and illustrations) is from his coverage of the Rufous Scrub-bird
Atrichornis rufescens – then Atrichia rufescens:
In 1906 Jackson sold his collection to H.L. White
, a wealthy pastoralist
of “Belltrees”, an extensive grazing property near Scone, New South Wales
, who had financed the publication of Jackson’s catalogue. Not only did Jackson’s collection form a key part of the H.L. White Collection, but in 1907 White employed Jackson as curator of the collection as well as a collector whom he sent on several quests around Australia to further expand it. Jackson remained in White’s employment until White’s death in 1927 when the egg collection passed to the National Museum of Victoria
in Melbourne
.
Quarto
Quarto could refer to:* Quarto, a size or format of a book in which four leaves of a book are created from a standard size sheet of paper* For specific information about quarto texts of William Shakespeare's works, see:...
book authored and published in 1907 by field 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...
Sidney William Jackson
Sidney William Jackson
Sidney William Jackson was an Australian naturalist and field ornithologist with a special interest in oology, who was also a skilled photographer and taxidermist.-History:...
. The full title text reads: "Egg collecting and bird life of Australia. Catalogue and data of the “Jacksonian oological collection”, illustrated with numerous photographs depicting various incidents and items in connection with this interesting study, which has been the life work of the Author."
Description
The book is essentially a 171-page catalogue of the collection of nearly 2000 eggs, representing over 500 species of Australian birds, accumulated by Jackson from his boyhood until his early thirties. Many he collected personally, especially in the area within reach of GraftonGrafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
, north-eastern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, then containing large areas of subtropical rainforest, with others from further afield being acquired through correspondence. The inclusion of numerous anecdotes about how the eggs he collected personally were obtained, with notes on the birds and their habitats as well as the many photographs of people and activities related to the collecting, add autobiographical and historical dimensions to the work.
The author says in his preface:
”The Collection which is described in this Volume, is the result of twenty-four years continuous work, as I commenced it in the year 1883; and a clutch taken in that year (Data No.216) may be considered as the nucleus of the enterprise. In the early days of the collecting, I had little idea of the magnitude it would eventually assume, but, looking back over the years, a fund of pleasant memories and fascinating experiences more than counterbalances the endless patience and perseverance, the many disappointments, and the solid hard work which were necessary to bring it to its present condition.”
Exemplifying both Jackson’s prose style and his approach to his work, the following extract (omitting references to other works and illustrations) is from his coverage of the Rufous Scrub-bird
Rufous Scrub-bird
The Rufous Scrub-bird is a bird species in the family Atrichornithidae. It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests...
Atrichornis rufescens – then Atrichia rufescens:
”This set of eggs is the only one known to science, and its discovery was the means of putting in the “keystone” to the oological arch in Australia. It is the first discovered, and still remains so. So the missing link has at last been found. During my visit to the scrubsRainforestRainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
of the rich Don Dorrigo countryDorrigo PlateauDorrigo Plateau is a plateau in northern New South Wales, which forms part of the Great Dividing Range. The plateau is sometimes referred to as the Dorrigo & Guy Fawkes Plateau....
, in the Upper Bellenger River district of New South Wales, in October of 1898, I had some most interesting experiences, and paid special attention to the Atrichia during my stay, and was particularly bent on finding its nest and eggs, and lost no opportunities of following it whenever I heard its very shrill and penetrating note. They are exceedingly shy birds, and hide very suddenly, and like a mouse they crawl under some big log, or into a mass of dead leaves, sticks, and bushes, and thus dodge a person beautifully. They frequent parts of the scrub where it is damp and dense, and almost impossible for a man to get through, and appear to be quite terrestrial in their habits. On the 20th October, of 1898, a party consisting of four, including myself, left camp at 8 a.m., after enjoying a good breakfast of damperDamper (food)Damper is a traditional Australian soda bread prepared by swagmen, drovers, stockmen and other travelers. It consists of a wheat flour based bread, traditionally baked in the coals of a campfire. Damper is an iconic Australian dish...
and curried Wonga PigeonWonga PigeonThe Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca is a pigeon that inhabits areas in eastern Australia with its range being from Central Queensland to Gippsland, eastern Victoria, Australia....
. We then entered the scrub at about 600 yards from the camp, when almost immediately we heard the noisy Spine-tailed OrthonyxesAustralian LogrunnerThe Australian Logrunner is a species of bird in the Orthonychidae family. It is endemic to eastern Australia...
crying out in all parts. Suddenly one flew from a nest which was built at the foot of a tree. About three feet from this nest was a tuft of long green stiff grass (Cyperaceae sp.), out of which immediately after the Orthonyx flew the Atrichia. We all rushed over, and found it contained two fresh eggs, and there was no doubt about them being those of the Atrichia, considering we all saw the bird fly from the nest. We then lay down concealed in the ferns and undergrowth, in the scrub, for nearly four hours, with gun ready, waiting for the return of Mrs. Atrichia, but it was all for nothing, not the slightest sight of the bird being obtained. It seems very remarkable that the female Atrichia has not yet been captured; all specimens so far obtained have been males, with the exception of one, which was caught at the nest at Booyong, near Lismore, N.S.W.Lismore, New South WalesLismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
, and a description of which I will give in this data. I shot eleven at various times, and when I have dropped across them in pairs, yet on dissection they all proved to be male birds."
In 1906 Jackson sold his collection to H.L. White
Henry Luke White
Henry Luke White was a wealthy grazier, and keen amateur ornithologist and oologist of Scone, New South Wales, Australia. He was a member of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union to which he was a generous benefactor...
, a wealthy pastoralist
Pastoralism
Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
of “Belltrees”, an extensive grazing property near Scone, New South Wales
Scone, New South Wales
Scone is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Scone had a population of 4,624 people. It is located on the New England Highway north of Muswellbrook about 270 kilometres north of Sydney, and is part of the Hunter and Upper...
, who had financed the publication of Jackson’s catalogue. Not only did Jackson’s collection form a key part of the H.L. White Collection, but in 1907 White employed Jackson as curator of the collection as well as a collector whom he sent on several quests around Australia to further expand it. Jackson remained in White’s employment until White’s death in 1927 when the egg collection passed to the National Museum of Victoria
Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria is an organisation which operates three major state-owned museums in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; these are: the Melbourne Museum, the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks. It also manages the Royal Exhibition Building and a storage facility in Melbourne's City of Moreland.Museum...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.