INTRODUCTION. 9 



dissecting-scissors, etc. To follow this method, drill with a 

 light twirling motion a small hole on one side of the egg, re- 

 move from the opening the inner membrane, which often (as 

 in the larger of two holes) interferes with further action, and 

 insert the blow-pipe. Then breathe gently, not forcibly, and 

 the contents, if fresh, will flow out about the pipe ; but, if they 

 do not, a little water should be injected, and the egg gently 

 shaken. Should there be further difficulty, inject warm water, 

 put the egg in a dark, warm place, with the hole turned up- 

 ward, and at the end of a few hours, after shaking it, remove 

 as much as possible of the yolk, etc., which must finally be 

 altogether disposed of, particularly in the case of white eggs. 

 Then inject more water, and again leave it. Young may be 

 cut up by slender scissors, having delicate blades at an angle 

 with their handles, and removed by a fine wire slightly 

 hooked, or by small forceps. Fresh eggs, if not too large, 

 may be " blown," or rather sucked, by means of a suction- 

 tube with a bulb. Specimens, when thoroughly rinsed and 

 ready for the cabinet, should be placed on blotting-paper to 

 dry (with the opening turned downward), where not exposed 

 to a strong light. Carbonate of soda is said to render a hard- 

 ened yolk soluble in water, but it must not come in contact 

 with the outer shell. There are various other details, too 

 numerous to mention, connected with the blowing of eggs by 

 instruments, such as gumming a series of very thin paper 

 wafers * about an opening made in a delicate shell, such as 

 that of a very small specimen, of one cracked, or of one nearly 

 hatched. 10 



NOTE. Take care in making a hole not to injure any mark- 

 ings ; and, when blowing, place beneath the egg a pail or basin 

 containing a few inches of water, to catch it, should it slip. 

 An egg when full is very easily broken, but when blown may 

 often be dropped without injury on to a carpet or soft sur- 

 face. One with the contents entirely removed floats in water 

 with only about a third or less of the shell beneath the level of 



* Flexible collodion is still better preceding paragraph have been bor- 

 for this purpose. W. B. rowed from various articles on this 



10 Several ideas expressed in the same subject. 



