454 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



the nest and eggs should be given. A printed label or data blank sim- 

 ilar to the following diagram is also necessary : 



No Name 



Collected by 



Locality 



Date 



Set Identity Incubation 



Nest. 



For illustration, the blank lines of the label should be filled in the 

 following manner: No. 126. Name, Arkansas Flycatcher. Collected 

 by J. L. Clemmons. Locality, San Diego, California. Dated, June 2, 

 1881. Set, y (indicating that the number of eggs in this set is four). 

 Identity, bird shot. Incubation, begun. Nest, made of coarse sticks 

 and twigs, lined with hair and cotton, placed in an " Australian Gum 

 Tree," twenty feet from the ground. All these data should be care- 

 fully written, and the label placed in the cabinet with the eggs. If 

 there are several sets of the same species, the collector should have his 

 own number to distinguish the sets. The label with full data should 

 always accompany the set in making exchanges. Besides the above 

 particulars the note-book should be filled with memoranda devoted to 

 the records of nests found and examined ; the general nature of the 

 surroundings ; the precise color and condition of the eggs when found, 

 as all these fade quickly from the memory. 



Nests that can be collected require a wrapping of thread for their 

 safe keeping. 



In climbing high trees, climbers are often usen. A wooden or tin 

 box, filled with cotton, should be taken up with you ; in this, securely 

 place the eggs before descending the tree. 



When eggs are to be shipped by mail or express they should never 

 be packed in anything but wooden or tin boxes. Each egg should be 

 wrapped in cotton and bound tightly with thread and then wrapped 

 in tissue paper. Place them in layers in the box with bits of cotton 

 between each egg. The bottom, sides and end of the box are often 

 lined with sheet cotton which is still better protection. 



In all ordinary cases collections of eggs are preserved in the 

 drawers of a cabinet. These are divided by partitions, and each sec- 

 tion partly filled with grated cork or box-wood sawdust, in which the 



