NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 155 



Sometimes by removing all the eggs in a nest, except one or two, 

 without handling those left_, quite a large number can be obtained 

 from one pair of birds ; generally, howeverj the nest will be found 

 abandoned on a second visit. 



The nests may not always be removable, and in such cases, full men- 

 tion of their position, character, &c., should be carefully made. Nests 

 constructed in bushes or on trees usually need but slight precautions 

 for their preservation intact. Those on the ground often require to 

 be secured against falling to pieces by a little judicious tying 

 together, or even by a few coarse stitches with a thread and needle. 

 A little cotton packed in the nest above the eggs will generally keep 

 the latter whole until reaching home, unless subjected to a violent 

 shock. It will be safer, however, to enclose each one in an envelope 

 of cotton. 



It is absolutely necessary, in all cases, to empty every egg of its 

 contents, in order to preserve the shell for cabinet purposes ; and this 

 should be done at the earliest moment possible. It is accomplished in 

 various ways : the simplest, when the egg does not contain a young 

 bird, being to prick a small aperture at each end (or better, perhaps, 

 on opposite sides) Tvith a sharp needle, (a three-cornered one answers 

 best,) one rather the larger, through which the contents are blown 

 by the application of the mouth at the other. Delicate eggs, how- 

 ever, when fresh, can be best emptied by suction, a small quantity at 

 a time of the contents being drawn into the mouth, and then dis- 

 charged. 



Should there be an embryo in the egg, or should the contents have 

 become thickened by long standing, it will be necessary to make a 

 larger aperture in the side by ^iricking out a circular piece of shell 

 carefully with the needle. A smaller hole may then be made opposite 

 to this, at which to apply the mouth in blowing, or the embryo may 

 be picked out through a single large hole. It will be of much interest 

 to preserve all embryos in alcohol for further investigation. 



European collectors usually make two small apertures close to each 

 other on one side, instead of on opposite sides. The discharge of the 

 contents of the egg is facilitated by the use of a small conical blow-pipe 

 or tube, the smaller end so fine as to enter the smaller aperture. A 

 stream of water injected by the mouth through the tube into the 

 aperture will be found an expeditious method of emptying the egg, 

 but it must be conducted very carefully. When a large hole is made, 

 the tube may be directed through it to the opposite side of the egg, 

 and a current of water forced in this will soon discharge the contents. 

 When practicable, the white membrane, the edge of which usually 

 protrudes from the opening after the liquids are forced out, should be 

 seized with a pair of forceps and pulled out, as, if left, it may discolor 

 the egg, and will always attract insects. If not too small, the egg 

 should then be partly filled with water through the tube, or by laying 

 one hole against a saucer of water and sucking through the other, 

 and carefully rinsed out. After the water is again blown out, the 

 egg may be allowed to dry by placing the larger hole downwards on 

 blotting or absorbent paper or cloth. When dry, the eggs should be 

 re2)laced in the nest, or laid carefully away, care being taken to add 



