COLLECTING AND PRESERVING EGGS. 77 



4 



building. Place straw, hay, cotton, hemp, or any of the 



materials that birds use in constructing their nests, in 

 an exposed situation in a swamp or wood, then by watch- 

 ing the birds when they come to take it, and following 

 them, many nests will be found that would otherwise 

 escape notice. 



To remove the contents of an egg, drill a small hole 

 in one side with a drill made for this purpose (Plate I. 

 Figs. 5, 6) ; two sizes of these drills will be required. Now, 

 with the blow-pipe - - of which two sizes are also needed, 

 (Fig. 7) - - applied to the lips, force a small stream of air 

 into the hole ; this will cause the contents, if fresh, to 

 escape at the one hole. To prevent breakage while drill- 

 ing the eggs of the Humming-Birds, or other small birds, it 

 is well to cover the outer surface with thin paper, gummed 

 securely on, and dried. 



To remove the contents of an egg that has the embryo 

 partially developed, drill as before, only a larger hole is 

 necessary; then with a small hook (Fig. 8) remove the 

 embryo in small pieces ; after which introduce water with 

 the blow-pipe to rinse the interior of the egg. If the con- 

 tents are allowed to remain in a few days, it will facilitate 

 their removal. If the egg is covered with paper, as in the 

 case of the Humming-Birds, the edges of the hole will be 

 less liable to be injured by the shell being broken while 

 using the hook. 



Never make holes at the end of the egg, or on opposite 

 sides ; but if this old method is still preferred, they should 

 both be made on one side, with the larger one nearest the 

 greater end. 



The best method that I know of for authenticating eggs 

 is the following : After the egg is blown, place a number, 

 written with ink, upon it, corresponding with one placed 

 in the nest, then draw a line beneath it ; under this line 

 place the number of the egg in the nest : thus - would 



