COLLECTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



51 



instance when numbers of birds of similar habits are breeding close together ; or even impos- 

 sible, as in case the parent eludes observation. Sometimes the most acute observer may be 

 mistaken, circumstances appearing to prove a parentage when such is not the fact. It is in 

 general advisable to secure the parent with the eggs : if shot or snared on the nest, the 

 identification is simply unquestionable. If you do not yourself know the species, it then 

 becomes necessary to secure the specimen, and retain it with the eggs. It is not required to 

 make a perfect preparation ; the head, or better, the head and a wing, will answer the purpose. 

 When egging in downright earnest, a pair of climbing irons, a coil of f inch rope, and a tin 

 collecting box filled with cotton, become practically indispensable; these are the only field 

 implements required in addition to those already specified. 



Preparing Eggs. For blowing eggs, a set of special tools is needed. These are " egg- 

 drills," — steel implements with a sharp- pointed conical head of rasping surface, and a slender 

 shaft; several such, of difierent sizes, are needed; also, blow-pipes of difterent sizes, a delicate 



Fig. 5. — Instrmnents for blowing eggs ; after Newton, a, 6, 

 blow-pipes, J iiat. size ; c, wire for cleansing them ; d, syringe, h 

 nat. size (the ring of the handle must be large enough to insert 

 the thumb); e, bulbous insuflaator, for sucking eggs. 



Fig. 4. —Egg-drills, diflerent sizes, nat. 

 size ; after Newton. 



thin pair of scissors, light spring for- 

 ceps, some little hooks, and a small 

 syringe. They are inexpensive, and 

 may be had of any dealer in natur- 

 alists' supplies. (See figs. 4-7.) Eggs 

 should never be blown in the old way of making a hole at each end ; nor are two holes any- 

 where usually required. Opening should be effected on one side, preferably that showing least 

 conspicuous or characteristic markings. If two are made, they should be rather near together ; 

 on the same side at any rate. But one is generally sufficient, as the fluid contents can escape 

 around the blow-pipe. Holding the egg gently but steadily in the fingers,^ apply the point of 



' The usual method of emptying eggs through one small hole is doubtless supposed to be a very modern trick; 

 but it dates back at least to 1828, when M. Danger proposed " a new method of preparing and preseving eggs for 

 the cabinet," which is practically the one now followed, though he used a three-edged needle to prick the hole, 

 instead of our modern drill, and did not appear to know some of our ways of managing the embryo. I make this 

 reference to his article to call attention to one of the tools he recouimeiuls, which I think would prove useful, as 

 being better than the fingers for holding an egg during drilling and blowing. The simple instrument will be un- 

 derstood from a glance at the ligure given in the Nuttall Bulletin, iii, 1878, p. 191. The oval rings are covered with 

 light fabric, like mosquito-netting or muslin, and do not touch the egg, which is held lightly but securely in the 

 netting. The cost would be trifling, and danger might be avoided by Danger's method. 



