282 APPENDIX. 



natural position by simply holding them in a jet of steam issuing 

 from the spout of a tea-kettle. For -study, unmounted specimens of 

 birds or animals are always preferred ; and as mounting is a distinct 

 art from simply preserving, and can be learned only from a teacher, 

 no attempt is made to give instructions in it. 



Eggs should never be washed, even to remove the filth of the 

 nest. A dentist's tooth-drill or a nail filed three-cornered may be 

 used for drilling a hole in the side. By inserting a small glass tube 

 or straw the contents may be blown out of the same hole, around 

 the tube. Blowing in a little water and shaking thoroughly will 

 often facilitate the process. It the embryo is partly developed, a 

 larger hole may be cut, and the contents removed with a hooked 

 pin, pulling out one limb at a time, and cutting it off. The opera- 

 tion of blowing eggs should always be performed over water. Labels 

 for eggs should note particularly the date, locality, site chosen by 

 the bird, scientific and common name, and any facts of interest.'" 



HINTS FOR STUDYING THE LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



In the latitude of southern New England during fifteen or twenty 

 days after June 10th, the smaller tortoises may be found about sun- 

 down on the margins of the ponds and streams digging holes and 

 laying their eggs; the larger, as Chel'ydra serpenti'na, doing the 

 same thing about sunrise in the morning. Removing the eggs care- 

 fully without turning them over, they may be placed two or three 

 inches deep in garden sand, protected with net-work, kept moist, 

 and so the progress of embryonic development watched till they 

 hatch in September or October, by examining one egg at a time 

 every two or three weeks. 



The development of the Batrachians may be studied in a similar 

 way by transferring frog and toad spawn, found in streams about 

 the first of June, to a glass vessel of water containing sand and 

 pebbles. It will be noticed that frogs' eggs are in a glairy mass ; 

 toads' eggs in a glairy string. If a female newt be placed in the 

 vessel with some growing aquatic plant like spotted knot^weed 

 (Polyg'onum per si eof ria), its curious habit of folding a leaf in 

 which to deposit its egg may be observed, and in time all the 

 changes pertaining to its metamorphosis. 



* Complete material for taxidermical work can be obtained of J. M. South- 

 wick, Providence, R. I. 



