366 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



the above instructions. The reason for this is obvious. 

 Eggs are far easier to carry when empty than when 

 full, and the risk of breaking them is greatly diminished. 

 You will also find that the best method of bringing eggs 

 down trees is to put them in your hat, with a little cotton 

 wool. 



Again, you must be extremely cautious how you 

 attempt to clean any of your specimens by washing 

 them, for in many eggs the colouring matter is easily 

 removed, especially if they be but newly laid. So also 

 I would advise you not to varnish your specimens, to 

 make them brilliant, such proceeding giving your eggs a 

 very artificial look, and being directly opposed to nature. 

 "In many specimens you will find the colours after some 

 little time fade considerably, but as far as I am aware no 

 method has yet been discovered which prevents this 

 taking place. The best and only plan is to keep them 

 from exposure to the light as much as possible. 



The above remarks apply to the means for preserv- 

 ing the egg ; but before your specimen is ready for the 

 cabinet something further has yet to be done, and which, 

 if neglected, causes all your previous trouble to be in 

 vain if you wish your collection to be, in a scientific 

 sense, truly valuable. As soon as your egg is obtained 

 and blown, place upon it in lead pencil some letter or 

 number, as reference to your memorandum book, which 

 should always be carried with you, and in which must 

 be noted the following particulars relating to it. The 

 date upon which it was taken, the locality, the situation 

 of the nest, any peculiarities you may notice in the site or 

 eggs, or in the conduct of the parent birds, and any 

 other interesting fact connected therewith. This will 

 suffice until you reach home, when these remarks must 

 be transferred to the note-book proper, relating to your 



