INTRODUCTION. 7 



or three days, the proper inference generally is that no more 

 will be laid. If the egg of a Cow-bird (§ 17, III) be discov- 

 ered, it should be taken home, or destroyed (at a distance from 

 the nest), unless observations are to be made upon the young 

 when hatched. 



§ G. A method of finding nests, which may often be prac- 

 tised with success, is that of " tracking " birds, when seen 

 with food for their mates or material for building. It is gen- 

 erally a wearisome and patience-exhausting process, and fre- 

 quently causes disappointment. It may often be facilitated by 

 the scattering of feathers, horse-hairs, string, cotton-wool, 

 straw, etc., in places where they will attract the attention of 

 the architects, in whose work you are interested. The nests of 

 woodpeckers may often be found, by tracing to their source 

 the loud rapping of the builders, or by observing on the 

 ground the chips, which are usually fresh (unless, as is rarely 

 the case, the excavation be made in an unsound tree). 



§ H. "When you take eggs, pack them at once, bearing in 

 mind that the smaller ones are very delicate, and even the 

 larger ones easily broken.^ If they are of the former class, 

 having taken from the box most of the cotton-wool, leave a 

 layer on the bottom, in which make a slight depression with 

 the finger, and lay the first egg. The following rules shouhl 

 be observed : — (1) An egg must not come in contact with an- 

 other, with the bottom, sides, or cover of the box. (2) The 

 cotton-wool must be tightly packed. To pack it loosely is a 



» Much danger will be obviated by blowing the eggs first, wlien practicable. 

 If fresh eggs are allowed to grow cold, or to remain long unblown tlie contents are 

 less easily removed. The reverse is said to be the case, when eggs containing em- 

 bryos are left unblown for two or even three days. See § I and note. 



