Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union early 20th century called themselves 'oologists', though the distinction between the notionally scientific discipline of oology and simple egg-collecting was blurred. Identification of any but the most common and distinctive species usually entailed the collection of specimens to be made into study skins. Modern field-guides did not exist and few people could afford the massive multi-volume, lavishly illustrated, handbooks of John Gould and Gregory Mathews. However, both Archibald J. Campbell and Alfred North had produced comprehensive guides to what was known about the nests and eggs of Australian birds, with illustrations of the eggs rather than of the birds themselves,
What Is It? What Is It? What Is It? is a 2005 American surrealist film written, edited, co-produced and directed by Crispin Glover. It stars Crispin Glover and Fairuza Balk and Steven C. Stewart. As of 2008, the film has only been shown at independent theaters, typically accompanied by a question-and-answer session, a one-hour dramatic narration of eight different profusely illustrated books as a slideshow, and a meet-and-greet/book signing with Glover. "What Is It?" is the first entry in a planned trilogy directed by Glover, followed by "It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine." and continued with "It Is Mine". The "adventures" of a