242 BIRDS' NESTS. 



plumage, and also in their summer and winter 

 liveries. Birds' eggs should also be anxiously 

 sought for, and the species carefully identified: 

 the best method of emptying them is to make a 

 single hole near the middle of the shell, of about 

 an eighth of an inch in diameter, into which a 

 small tube is to be inserted, so as nearly to touch 

 the opposite side of the shell, which, being held 

 with the hole downwards, is easily emptied of its 

 contents, by blowing pretty strongly through the 

 tube : if no more convenient instrument is at 

 hand, a straw will make a very serviceable blow- 

 pipe. Birds' nests should not be neglected ; they 

 possess a high degree of interest: the collector 

 should, therefore, take accurate descriptions of 

 the materials, form, and size, of every kind of 

 nest he finds, always being extremely cautious to 

 ascertain the species to which each respectively 

 belongs : he should also make careful drawings 

 of every variety, and even collect such of the 

 smaller nests as possess any peculiarity in point 

 of material, structure, or mode of suspension. 



