78 THREE KINGDOMS. 



a few tin boxes full of cotton, and a note-book. The best 

 collectors take the nest and a full set of eggs, and in such 

 case they need some sort of basket in which to carry 

 them. Less damage is done by actual students, even if 

 they take the nests and all the eggs, than by mere 

 robbers, who perhaps content themselves with stealing 

 "only one egg from a nest;" bejcause the latter are never 

 content with one good specimen, but continue pilfering 

 accessible nests until, in some instances, they accumu- 

 late hundreds of useless robins' and bluebirds' eggs, and 

 rob the orchards of their melody. Eggs should be blown 

 through one neat hole in the side, and for this purpose a 

 set of egg-drills and a blowpipe should be procured. The 

 specimens should be rinsed with some poisonous solution, 

 and may then be arranged in cabinets in their proper 

 nests, or in compartments filled with sand, cedar saw- 

 dust, or cotton. The lesson of their fragility is one speed- 

 ily learned by experience. It is frequently vividly im- 

 pressed upon the student while, during his descent from 

 some towering pine or oak, he carries his treasures in 

 that most available receptacle his mouth. 



It may not be out of place to caution the young col- 

 lector against a danger that attends the exploration of 

 deep holes in trees, such as wrens delight in. Unless the 

 opening is evidently large enough to give comfortable 

 room for the arm, never allow your arm to crowd into a 

 hole beyond the elbow, or you may not be able to withdraw 

 it. 



With eggs, as with all other specimens, tneir value 

 depends largely upon the fullness and accuracy of the 

 data accompanying them- Date, location, and description 

 of birds, both male and female, together with such other 

 facts as may be observed, should be carefully noted at the 

 time of collecting, and to this should be added, of course, 

 the name of the collector. 



