4 



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, however, the nest 

 will be found abandoned on a second visit. 



The nests may not always be removable. In such cases, full 

 mention of their . position, character, &c., should be carefully 

 made. NevSts 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 dropping to pieces 

 by a little judicious wrapping, or 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 gene- 

 rally keep the latter whole until reaching home, unless subjected 

 to a violent shock. It will be safer, however, to inclose each 

 one in an envelop 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 an embryo, being to prick a small aperture 

 at each end, on opposite sides, with a sharp needle (a three- 

 cornered one answers best), or an egg drill, one aperture rather 

 the larger, through which the contents are blown by the appli- 

 cation of the mouth at the other. Delicate eggs, however, when 

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

 of the contents being drawn into the mouth, and then discharged. 

 European collectors generally make two apertures near the ex- 

 tremities, that towards the blunt end the larger; or else a single 

 hole in the side through which the contents are emptied by the 

 V)lowpipe or syringe. This is much the better way, when a 

 blowpipe can be procured. 



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 cutting out a circular 

 ]uece of shell carefully with the needle or drill. A smaller hole 

 may then be made opposite to this, at which to apply the mouth 

 ill blowing, or the embryo may be picked out through a single 

 large hole. It will be of much interest to preserve all embryos 

 ill alcohol for further investigation. The discharge of the 

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



