So.]//: Remarkable Nests axd Eggs. 79 



coated with chalk that the real shell cannot be seen 

 iniiil the covering is scraped away. 



A strano-e thini]^ about a bird's ei^-^' is that an 

 injiirv to the shell just after it is laid docs n(»t 

 appear to do the coining clncl;: any liarni. provided 

 the air be excliidi-d. 



One day a gentleman living in one of" the eastern 

 counties of England found a 1 Hack bird's nest near 

 his fruit garden, in which be takes great |)ride, and 

 iliinldng tli.it if he destroyed the four iVesh eg<4s it 

 eont;(in('d tbe bii-d w«>uld sii to worl\ again at onee 

 and build a n^w one where he might not (lisco\'er 

 il. he 1 bought he would wash' her time. Taking a 

 pin. he drove it right through each v^j/^^^, and then 

 Went his way. 'Hie albumen welled up. filled ea(di 

 hole, hardened, and so etVectiially e.\elu<led the air 

 that a tine strong chick emerged from ea<di egi; in 

 due season. 



A (ifnuaii scientist, of a rather iiupiisiiive and 

 certainly ingenious tin*n of mind, once took it int(^ 

 his head that he would like to watch a chick grow 

 in-^ide an ^^^^f^. lie at once set to work, and, with 

 a nund»cr of delicate tools and the exercise of great 

 care, he managed to remo\'e a piece of shell and 

 actually tix a tiny window in its place. Through 

 this window he was successful in wat(diing the 

 development of the ehi(d<: for lour or tive da}s 



Kggs dirt'er enormously in size, as may be seen 

 from our illustration on the next page of the largest 

 and smallest laid in the British Islands. The wee 



