EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 19 
Some birds show a remarkable love for the same situa- 
tion, in which they nest year after year for an incredible 
length of time. The same place is known to have been used 
by falcons for about a century and a quarter, and likely to 
continue if the birds are not molested. Blue Titmice are 
known to have selected the same quarters over a hundred 
years in unbroken succession. 
On Forming a Collection.—My concluding remarks 
will be devoted to the guidance of such as require to make 
a collection of eggs. 
Keep close watch on the building operations of the 
birds whose eggs are required. MDippers, Thrushes, and 
many others commence early in the spring, especially after 
a mild winter. 
Take only one specimen, and not until you have reason 
to believe the bird has done laying. Never under any cir- 
cumstances take an egg when you have ground to suppose 
incubation has commenced, or is in an advanced stage, for 
besides the cruelty of the thing, it will often be of no use. 
The specimen being secured, it is taken for granted the 
collector is furnished with the necessary drill and blow- 
pipe, procurable at any naturalist’s shop. The next pro- 
ceeding is to drill a small hole exactly on the side of 
the egg, selecting that of a spotted one with the least 
characteristic marks on it. Then insert the end of the 
blow-pipe, or rather direct the current of air sent through 
it into the hole made, being careful with small eggs 
not to burst them, or squeeze them until they collapse 
under the pressure of the fingers. When the contents 
have been emptied wash the egg out with clean water, 
introduced through the blow-pipe, being careful not to 
wet the outside more than necessary, or rub it too 
