
[5] COLLECTING BIRDS’ EGGS AND NESTS—BENDIRE. 
Windsor Hil!, Connecticut, which, although somewhat more expensive, 
is one of the best egg-blowers known to me. A short blowpipe like the 
above, with a rubber tube about 3 feet in length and a horn mouth- 
piece attached, makes a very satisfactory instrument for general use. 
To blow an egg.—Drill a small hole on the side and in the center of 
‘the egg, insert the tip of the blowpipe for a very short distance, and re- 
move the contents as far as this cau readily be done. In fact an egg 
can be blown without inserting the point at all, simply holding it close 
up to the hole and foreing air through it. Should the albumen be 
thick or stringy, and not run out freely while blowing the egg, push 
aside such parts as may be forced out of the hole with the end of the 
blowpipe or a small pair of forceps, and shake the egg; this will faeili- 
tate matters. Small portions of the albumen and yolk of the egg will 
usually remain in the shell, and this is best removed by fercing water into 
the egg with asmall syringe, holding the point of the latter over the hole 
and an inch from it. This will always allow a part of the water to 
enter. When about half full shake the egg, holding it between the 
fingers, and then blow out the contents. If the water does not come 
out perfectly clear repeat the process until it does. Eggs that have 
been thoroughly cleaned will retain their original color much better, 
and insects or mice are not so apt to injure them. After the egg has 
been cleaned it should be put away, hole downward, and allowed to 
drain. The best material to place an egg on to absorb whatever moist- 
ure may remain init after cleaning, is corn meal. Particles of this sub- 
stance that may remain sticking about the hole of the egg are easily 
removed by aslight touch of the fingers. I find coarse corn meal to be 
by far the best article to drain eggs on, as it will not stick tightly and is 
always readily removed; the danger of chipping small pieces of the 
shell around the edges of the hole, which often happens where blotting 
paper or fine sawdust are used for this purpose, is in this way reduced 
to a mipimum. 
In cases where eggs are nearly hatched when found, excepting very 
small and thin-shelled ones, which beyond a certain stage can not 
readily be saved, and should not under such circumstances be disturbed, 
drill a slightly larger hole in the shell and puncture or lacerate the 
embryo with a needle or a sharp embryo hook. Care must be taken 
not to run the instrument through the opposite side of the egg. Then 
try to force out such of the contents, consisting of fluid portions and 
parts of the yolk, which have not been entirely absorbed by the embryo. 
This may be accomplished either by the blowpipe or, perhaps, more 
readily by holding the point of a small syringe, filled with water, directly 
over the hole and about an inch from it, and forcing a steady stream of 
water into the egg. Never insert the point of the syringe directly in 
the hole, unless you wish to burst the egg. Do not attempt to force 
out too much in the beginning, After getting out some of the softer 
contents of the egg, fill it with the water, wipeit dry and clean and put 
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