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careful an examination as circumstances will admit, of the 

 precise situation of the nest, the materials of which it is 

 composed (supposing that the collector cannot bring it away 

 with him), and accurately to survey the surrounding locality, 

 to observe by what species it is frequented ; all the particulars 

 of which examination and survey should be fully noted down 

 at the earliest opportunity possible. Should, however, either 

 or both the birds be killed, they should be skinned, or at 

 least some characteristic part of each preserved, and duly 

 labelled, to correspond with the inscriptions subsequently put 

 on the eggs, and always with a reference to the collector's 

 journal or note-book, wherein fuller details may be found. 



" The collector of eggs is especially warned not to be misled 

 by the mere fact of seeing birds around or near the nests. 

 Many of the crow family (CorvidteJ, are great eaters of eggs, 

 and mistakes are known to have originated from birds of that 

 kind being seen near nests of which they were certainly not 

 the owners. Others, such as the Titmice (Paridcp), though 

 not plunderers, obtain their food by incessantly seeking it, 

 even in the very localities where many species build. It often 

 happens, also, that two different birds have their nests situated 

 very close to one another, and if they be allied species the 

 collector may be easily deceived." 



The best method of blowing eggs is to make a single hole 

 in the side, and not at either end as is commonly done. The 

 latter method breaks the outline of the egg, and doubles the 

 risk of cracking the shell. The former method answers every 

 purpose, and, when the egg is placed with the hole downwards, 

 there is nothing to offend the eye. The egg may be blown 

 by means of a blow-pipe or a stalk of grass. The hole being 

 being made somewhat larger than the tip of the pipe or stalk, 

 the contents of the shell cannot but escape when air is blown 

 in. A rat-tailed file, with a very sharp point, is a very effec- 

 tual borer for making the hole in moderate and large-sized 



