Egg-Collecting and Its Object 
out the contents of an egg through a hole of insufficient size. In 
large eggs, the scissors or forceps come into use. If the embryo 
is very large soak the egg in water for a day or so. 
It is of the utmost importance that the egg should be thor- 
oughly washed, both inside and out, with either cold or tepid water, 
which may contain some weak antiseptic solution, but on no ac- 
count must very hot water be used. The water should be taken 
up with the blow-pipe and discharged into the egg, repeating this 
operation several times. Finally dry thoroughly, letting it drain, 
hole downwards, on cornmeal, sawdust, blotting-paper, or sand 
if nothing else is obtainable. 
In the case of white eggs their beauty is much enhanced by 
inserting a little pink cotton-wool ; this makes the specimen ap- 
pear more as though the yolk were inside. 
For field work have a few small metal boxes (such as those 
used for holding tobacco) filled with cotton wadding cut into 
squares, so that each egg may be wrapped up separately. Put on 
each a number, written lightly in pencil, referring to your field 
notes on that egg ; this saves a great deal of confusion, especially 
when many eggs are found in a day. The A. O. U.* check list 
number should be written on every egg to prevent the occurrence 
of any possible mistake. 
If the collection consists of nests with the eggs a cabinet 
with glass top will be needed, so that the nests may be seen, while 
at the same time the air and dust may be excluded as much as 
possible ; camphor or naphthaline must be kept in the cabinet. 
Strong sunlight ought not to be allowed to fall on the eggs, for it 
causes them to fade, so it is advisable to keep the cabinet covered 
with some opaque material. Each nest should be marked either 
with a number referring to the catalogue, or with that and the 
name of the nest. If the collection contains only eggs, they should 
be kept in a cabinet with well-made drawers, each drawer di- 
vided off with partitions large enough to contain a complete set. 
The eggs may be laid on cotton, sawdust, sand, or finely grated 
cork, the last being perhaps the most suitable. 
* American Ornithologists’ Union. 
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