BIRDS' EGGS. 525 



too much time ; and I saw that there would be great difficulty in 

 doing small eggs. 



About three weeks ago, a bright thought (a rara avis with me) 

 struck me, just as I was in the act of climbing up to a hawk's nest. 

 I felt certain that every difficulty had vanished, and I began to blame 

 myself on the score of former dulness. 



In selecting eggs for your cabinet, always choose those which are 

 newly laid. Make a moderately-sized hole at the sharp end, with a 

 pointed instrument proportioned to the egg. Thus, for a swan's egg, 

 use the point of your penknife; for a robin's, take a small pin. 

 Having made the hole at the sharp end, make one at the blunt end, 

 and let this last hole be as small as possible. This done, apply your 

 mouth to the blunt end, and blow the contents of the egg through 

 the sharp end, where the hole is larger. If the yoke will not come 

 out freely, run a pin or a wire up into the egg, and stir the yolk well 

 about. Now get a cup full of water, and, immersing the sharp end 

 of the shell into it, apply your mouth to the blunt end, and suck up 

 some of the water into the empty shelL Then put your finger and 

 thumb upon the two holes, shake the water well within, and, after 

 this, blow it out. The water will clear your egg of any remains of 

 yolk or of white which might stay in after the blowing. If one suck- 

 ing up of water will not suffice,, make a second or a third. 



An egg, immediately after it is produced, is very clean and pure ; 

 but by staying in the nest, and by coming in contact with the feet of 

 the bird, it soon assumes a soiled appearance. To remedy this, wash 

 it well in soap and water, and use a nail-brush to get the dirt off. 

 Your egg-shell is now as it ought to be; and nothing remains to be 

 done but to prevent the thin white membrane (which is still inside) 

 from corrupting. 



Take a wine-glass, and fill it with the solution of corrosive sub- 

 limate in alcohol. Then immerse the sharp end of the egg-shell into 

 it, keeping your finger and thumb, as you hold it, just clear of the 

 solution. Apply your mouth to the little hole at the blunt end, and 

 suck up some of the solution into the shell. You need not be fearful 

 of getting the liquor into your mouth ; for, as soon as it rises in the 

 shell, the cold will strike your finger and thumb, and then you cease 

 sucking. Shake the shell just as you did when the water was in it, 



