General Notes. 191 



evidently in the neighborhood of their respective families, but the heat 

 compelled us to desist from further investigations. In the same locality 

 we found Spizella pusilla, Pocecetes gramineus, and Melospiza melodia, but 

 the Buntings were present in at least equal numbers, as we heard the 

 notes of other males besides the three we fully identified. But a fierce 

 sun, with the glass at 90° in the shade, was not favorable to a full census 

 of all the pairs inhabiting this remote region. We saw enough to satisfy 

 us of its actual presence in considerable numbers. — T. M. Brewer, Bos- 

 ton, Mass. 



A Hint to Egg-Collectors. — The usual method of emptying eggs 

 through one small hole with a bent blow-pipe is doubtless supposed to be 

 a very modern trick ; but it dates back to 1828, when M. Danger* pro- 



posed " a new method of preparing and preserving eggs for the cabinet," 

 which is substantially identical with the operation as now universally 

 practised, though he used a three-edged needle to punch the hole, instead 

 of our modern drill, and did not refer to some of our late ways of man- 

 aging the embryos. I refer to the paper less as a matter of history than 

 for the purpose of bringing to notice one of the tools which M. Danger 

 recommends, and which I think would prove very useful indeed. In fact, 

 I am rather surprised that it has been so long neglected, and strongly 

 advise a trial of the instrument, as something better than fingers for 

 holding the egg during drilling and blowing. The instrument is so sim- 

 ple, that it will be understood without description by a glance at the 

 accompanying figure. The oval rings are covered with some light fabric, 

 like mosquito netting, and do not touch the egg, which is held lightly but 

 securely in the netting. Such an instrument would cost but a trifle, and 

 it seems worth ascertaining whether we may not avoid danger by Danger's 

 own method. — Elliott Coues, Washington, D. G. 



The Kentucky "Warbler (Oporornis formosus) at Sing Sing, N. Y. 

 — At this place, in June, 1875, I found the nest, containing three fresh 

 eggs, and secured the two old birds of this species. f The woods where 

 they were found is a long belt, which lies on both sides of a stream which 



* Meinoire sur une nouvelle niethode de preparer et de rendre durables les 

 collections d'ceufs destines aux cabinets d'histoire naturelle ; par M. F. P. 

 Danger. Annalcs des Sciences Naturellcs, l" e ser. V, 1828, pp. 338 - 348, pi. 10. 



t Am. Nat., Vol. IX, No. 10, October, 1875, p. 573. 



