Hatching. 53 



with a fine dust or sediment, a watering pot, 

 with a rose bearing very small perforations, 

 should be employed to wash it off; but if the 

 filter be Lipscombe's, and the covers kept 

 closely on, there will be little chance of this 

 occurring ; however, should there be the slightest 

 appearance of it when the eggs are examined in 

 the glass tube, the remedy should be promptly 

 administered, as sediment is a very dangerous 

 thing, for it chokes the eggs by preventing the 

 free absorption of oxygen from the water, on 

 which the health and development of the 

 embryo so much depend. Dirty eggs may 

 hatch, but will never thrive. 



Should the purchase of " eyed ova " be made, 

 any fresh variety be introduced, or a greater 

 stock be required than the river itself will sup- 

 ply, they will generally be received packed in 

 round tin boxes, either loose, in wet moss, or 

 enclosed in folds of muslin or mosquito netting, 

 with layers of wet moss above and below them. 



