[ProceediDgs United States National Mneetim, 1884, Appendix.] 



SMITH soxi AX ixstitutio:n^. 



UNITED STATES INT A TI O IST -A. L M: TJ S E TJ M . 



:so. 30. 



A LIST OF BIRDS THE EGGS OF "WHICH ARE WANTED TO COM- 

 PLETE THE SERIES IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, "WITH INSTRUC- 

 TIONS FOR COLLECTING EGGS. 



Br Captain CBARLES E. BEXDIRE, F. S. A., 



Honorary Curator, section of Oology. U. S. Xational Museum. 



Species marked with a * are, with few exceptions, entirely wanting 

 in the collection, or only represented by a few foreign, and for the greater 

 part very poorly prepared, specimens. All of these species are espe- 

 cially desired. 



Species marked with a f are represented in the collection in most 

 instances by poor specimens, or else by but a small number of good 

 ones, and others are much needed. 



Species marked with a § are represented by a fair series of specimens, 

 but further additions will be acceptable. 



It is very desirable that eggs should be weU prepared, kept in sets, 

 and that complete data, that is, date and locality of collecting, situation 

 of nest, and anything else of interest, be furnished with each set. The 

 nests of all the rarer species will also be very acceptable. 



Eggs should be blown through a single small hole neatly drilled on 

 one side, and care be taken to remove the entire contents. A simple 

 blow-pipe and a few different sized drills are all that is required. Many 

 collectors use very fine glass points attached to a rubber bulb. Others 

 nse an instrument manufactured by E. W. Ellsworth. East Windsor 

 Hill. Conn., which is about the best implement known to me for the 

 purpose. 



To bloic an egg. — Drill a small hole on the side and in the center of 

 the egg, insert the tip of the blowpipe for a very short distance, and 

 remove the contents as far as this can readily be done. Small portions 

 of the albumen and yolk of the egg will usually remain in the shell, and 

 this is best removed by forcing water into the egg with a small syringe, 

 holding the point of the latter over the hole and an inch from it. This 

 will always allow a part of the water to enter. When about half fall, 

 shake the egg. holding it between the fingers, and then blow out the 



tl] 613 



