The Oologist. 



VOL. XVI. NO. 4 



ALBION, N. Y., APRIL, 1899. 



VThole No. 153 



The Oologist. 



A Monthly Publication Devoted to 



OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND 

 TAXIDERMY. 



FRANK H. LATTIN, Editor and PubLsher, 

 ALBION, N. Y. 



Correspondence and Items of Interest to the 

 student of Birds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited 

 from all. 



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A» 8ECCNO-CLASS I 



Hints on the Scientific Preparation of 

 Birds' Eg-gfs. 



First tiatl your eggs. Then identify 

 theru, if possible, belore taking. If this 

 is impossible, set down with note-book 



and pencil and write out in detail every 



fact yon can note in reganl t > appear- 

 ance of the bird, situation and compo- 

 sition of uest, etc. In doubtful cases 

 where nest is small collect the nest with 

 eggs. 



I am not going to discuss the advisa- 

 bility of carrying a gun. I know many 

 of the best oologi.sts advi.<e it. In only 

 a few very doubtful cases h:ive 1 been 

 obliged to use one. 



There are several good works on both 

 birds and eggs, and one treating fully 

 of the nests also, so that with careful 

 observations and full notes the shot-gun 

 will seldom be necessary. 



Unless eggs art- fresh and you have 

 plenty of time j ou will not care to blow 

 them on the sptit. Remember that un- 

 blown eggs on account of their greater 

 weight, require ev^u b^-tter packing 

 than blown ones They dent ea&ily if 

 small and it is a good plan to keep your 

 tinger nails vgeW patvd down when 

 hatidliijg them. 



Be sure to wrap them so that they can 

 not slip and strike each other. If the 

 eggs, when held up to the sun, appear 

 uniformly dark except a small spot at 

 one end which will be quite traospar- 

 eut. they are nearly hatched and should 

 never be taken, unless of good siz^ and 

 very desirable 



CHAPTER I. — TREATMENT OF FRESH OR 

 NEARLY FRESH EGGS 



Always have a good assortment of 

 drills as to size. Bo sure not to start 

 drilling on small eggs with anything 

 larger than an 8-100 drill. A larger 

 drill is liable to either smash a ragged 

 hole and perhaps crack the egg beyond 

 repair or make a saw-tooth hole If the 

 egg is especially smooth like those of 

 the Bobolink or has been incubated un- 



